This document discusses the intersection of systems thinking and design. It proposes 10 shared design principles derived from systems theories that can guide design practices for complex social systems. These principles include idealization, appreciating complexity, purpose finding, boundary framing, requisite variety, feedback coordination, system ordering, generative emergence, continuous adaptation, and self-organizing. The document maps these principles to both general design methodologies and specific methods used in Dialogic Design. It concludes that these principles can serve to integrate practices across design projects for complex social domains and address some gaps in current approaches.

1. Bringing Design to
Dialogic Design
Peter Jones, PhD
OCAD University, Toronto
Dialogic Design International
2015 International Conference on the Science of Dialogic Design

2. 2
Hugh Dubberly & Harold Nelson argue
that design processes are embodiments
of systems thinking.
Banathy (& Gharajedaghi)
advocate a designing
orientation to social systems
as designing.

3. 3
Where do design & systems thinking intersect?
Based on R. Horn, 2004, Adapted with permission.

4. Some context.
• Systems science has preferred theories for system description
(explanation), prediction (control), & intervention (change).
• Contributions of modern design disciplines - industrial,
information, service design – to systems are marginal, so far.
• “Design” seen as problem solving, or system design.
• Social systems design can connect design thinking to complex
social domains – healthcare, urban planning, governance.
• Which are (now) everything – social, services, networks.

5. Peter Jones, PhD
OCAD University, Toronto
Institute for 21st Century Agoras
ISSS 2014 July 31, 2014
Systemic Design Principles for
Complex Social Systems

6. Design thinking deals well with complexity.
Design must become more systemic –
for complex concerns.
Complex domains have > stakeholders
Design 1.0 Craft design, Advertising
Design 2.0 Industrial, Products, Web
Design 3.0 Organizational & institutional
Design 4.0 Distributed social systems
Mixed stakeholders

7. Compatible philosophies, different generations.
Generation: First Second Third Fourth
Philosophy Rational
1960’s
Pragmatic
1970’s
Phenomenological
1980’s
Generative
2000’s
Methods Movement
from craft to
standardized
methods
Instrumentality,
Methods
customized to
context
Design research and
stakeholder methods
Design cognition
User-centered
Generative,
empathic &
transdisciplinary
Human-centered
Authors
& trends
Simon, Fuller
Design
Science,
Planning
Rittel, Jones
Wicked problems,
Evolution
Schon, Don Norman
User-centered &
Participatory Design
Reflective action
Dubberly, Sanders
Generative Design
Service Design
Systemic design
Systems
influences
Sciences,
OR
Cybernetics
Natural systems
System dynamics
Systems
engineering
System dynamics
Social systems
Soft systems
Complexity
Socio-ecological
Dialogic
Participatory

8. 8

9. Training New System Designers.
MDes STRATEGIC FORESIGHT & INNOVATION
• Business & Design Thinking
• Human Factors
• Systemic Design / Systems Thinking
• Innovation Research Methods
• Strategic Foresight
• Innovation Strategy
• Business Model Innovation
• Strategic research with faculty & students
+ MDes DESIGN FOR HEALTH (2016)

11. 10 Shared Design Principles
Systemic Design Principle Design Methodologies
1. Idealization Iteration
2. Appreciating Complexity Sensemaking
3. Purpose finding Saliency - Meaning-making
4. Boundary framing Provocation and strange-making
5. Requisite variety Multiple perspectives
6. Feedback coordination Modeling
7. System ordering Structuring
8. Generative emergence Future projection
9. Continuous adaptation Multiple reasoning modes
10. Self-organizing Co-creation
Guidance for complex systems design from systems,
cybernetic & complexity principles.
Foundation for practitioners to enhance
engagement and evolve better practices.
Elicited from systems theories, but not new.
Lead to net new frameworks for design in:
Patient-centred healthcare systems
Sustainable business models
Organizational governance
“The primary aim the two systems of thought share today is enabling organized high-
leverage action in increasingly complex and systemic problems as design situations.”

12. Design methods associated with principles
Systemic Design Principle Design Methods
1. Idealization Framing, Iteration, Backcasting
2. Appreciating Complexity Sensemaking, System sketching
3. Purpose finding Inquiry (5 Whys), Prototyping
4. Boundary framing Critical probes, Strange-making
5. Requisite variety Co-creation, Function analysis
6. Feedback coordination Modeling, Interactive Testing
7. System ordering Structuring, Pattern making
8. Generative emergence Future creation,
9. Continuous adaptation Multiple reasoning modes
10. Self-organizing Co-creation, Facilitated design modes
We might also observe design of: Time (4), Space (3), Information (3)

13. Design methods associated with principles
Systemic Design Principle Dialogic Design Methods
1. Idealization Futures Creative, Values discovery
2. Appreciating Complexity Influence Map
3. Purpose finding Defining Triggering Question
4. Boundary framing TQ, Application design
5. Requisite variety Stakeholder discovery & selection
6. Feedback coordination Structured facilitation, Print sheets
7. System ordering Structuring, Clustering
8. Generative emergence Shared Language, Interpreting ISM
9. Continuous adaptation Interpretive Systems Design, Action Planning
10. Self-organizing Stakeholder coalition forming
We might also observe design of: Time (4), Space (3), Information (3)

14. Mapping Systems Principles to Design Models
• Discovery and orientation
• Definition and concept formation
• Optimization and planning
• Evaluation and measurement
Model drawn in part from
Evenson and Dubberly, 2010
Four universal patterns across 50
innovation processes
van Patter and Pastor (2013)

15. Mapping Systems Principles to Design

16. 10 Shared Design Principles
Principle Design Methodologies
1. Idealization (time) Framing, Iteration clarifies toward a shared goal
SDD: Futures Creative, Values discovery

17. Design Principle Design Methodologies
2. Appreciating Complexity Sensemaking, System sketching
SDD: Influence Map

18. 3. Purpose finding Saliency - Meaning-making
SDD: Defining Triggering Question

19. 4. Boundary framing Provocation and strange-making
SDD: Triggering Question, Application design
All people are health-seekers
A health-seeking journey occurs over a lifetime, a continuity that
proceeds through youth, adulthood, & older age.

20. 5. Requisite variety Multiple perspectives
SDD: Stakeholder discovery & selection

21. Design Principle Design Methodologies
6. Feedback coordination Modeling, Mapping
SDD: Structured facilitation, Print sheets

22. 7. System ordering Structuring information
SDD: Structuring, Clustering

23. 8. Generative emergence Future projection
SDD: Shared Language, Interpreting ISM

24. Design Principle Design Methodologies
9. Continuous adaptation Multiple reasoning modes
Interpretive Systems Design, Action Planning

25. 10. Self-organizing Co-creation, Local Facilitation Modes
Stakeholder coalition forming

27. Conclusions & Questions
• Ten general relationships across systems & design disciplines
• Robust with respect to theory & praxis
• Serve an integrative function across design projects for
complex social contexts.
• Design competencies address gaps in current SDD practice:
- Lack of methods defined for Discovery
- Contested ways of enacting Action from planning
- Creative approaches to Coalition formation
- Ability to better adapt & stage practices to differing cultures