Embracing Systems Thinking in Sustainable Design

Sustainability. It’s the hot buzzword at corporate events, the shiny badge of honour on design portfolios, and the lofty goal of companies everywhere. But here’s the truth: when I first dipped my toes into the world of sustainability, it felt more like diving headfirst into a pool of technical jargon and existential dread. You know, the usual stuff—carbon accounting, regenerative design, and so many acronyms that sent my brain into overdrive.

The Climate Fresk Experience

At the time, I was deep into research, looking to see how our design practice could further weave sustainability into our way of working. Lucky for me, PALO IT was rolling out the Climate Fresk to all employees. If you haven’t heard of it, let me fill you in.

The Climate Fresk uses cards and a collaborative approach to help participants grasp the causes and consequences of climate change. Think of it as a board game for adults, but one that deep dives into the science behind climate change and builds on the collective intelligence of the group. This experience was eye-opening - it wasn’t just about the overwhelming science; it was about storytelling and collaboration. Suddenly, I wasn’t just learning about problems—I was understanding the cause-and-effect relationship in climate systems and how they were connected. Understanding the bigger picture via the Climate Fresk provided a great foundation, from which I could work to deepen my understanding and delve into topics more directly related to my field of work of design and user experience.

Seeing the Bigger Picture: The Power of Systems Thinking

I later realised that the Climate Fresk embodied a systemic view, offering a great framework for understanding interconnected components and pinpointing leverage points for change. It’s about seeing the bigger picture—understanding that everything is interconnected. Think of it like a spider’s web; pull on one thread, and the entire structure trembles.

In the context of design, this means acknowledging that our choices—whether it’s selecting materials, designing processes, or even choosing suppliers—don’t exist in a vacuum. They ripple out into the world, affecting everything from local ecosystems to global economies. Donella Meadows’ ‘Thinking in Systems’ is a fantastic resource for anyone wanting to dip their toes into systems thinking. Meadows emphasises the importance of understanding feedback loops and leverage points, which are crucial for making impactful design decisions.

Getting Practical: Applying Systems Thinking in Sustainable Design

So, how do we take this lofty idea of systems thinking and actually apply it to sustainable design? Here are a few practical tips to get you started:

1. Map the Connections: Start by zooming out and mapping out the relationships between the elements of the problem that you’re tackling. Identify how each component interacts with others and consider the potential ripple effects of your choices. This will help you visualise the bigger picture and pinpoint areas for improvement.

   Last year, we were engaged to reimagine an online innovation platform to foster collaboration and co-create solutions that enhance the quality of life for persons with disabilities. As part of the discovery phase, we reviewed the disability landscape in order to understand where our solution would fit in the wider landscape where we mapped out the roles played by other solutions providers, beneficiaries and caregivers. We then considered the interactions of the various elements, e.g. how might our solution work with existing events such as hackathons etc.

2. Engage Diverse Perspectives: Collaborate with stakeholders from various fields—engineers, environmentalists, and community members. Their insights will enrich your understanding and provide fresh angles on potential solutions, creating a more holistic approach.

   In a recent service design engagement, we were tasked with rethinking an event aimed at new homeowners in order to encourage community bonding in addition to preparing them for their homeownership journey. In addition to interviewing a diverse range of users, a co-creation workshop was held with both previous attendees from different demographics as well as experts from various fields to capture a wide range of viewpoints. At the table that I facilitated the age ranged from 8-74, we had a real estate agent, representatives from local people's associations and specialists in community policy.

3. Focus on Feedback Loops: Pay attention to feedback loops between the elements of the system - these can be balancing loops (self-correcting) or reinforcing (leads to instability). An example of a reinforcing feedback loop could be social media algorithms. As users engage with certain types of content, the algorithm shows more of it, which can lead to echo chambers or extreme content. This is a reinforcing loop that intensifies user behavior, potentially creating instability.

4. Embrace Complexity: Understand that sustainable design is inherently complex. Rather than shying away from it, lean into that complexity. Use it as an opportunity to innovate and develop creative solutions that address multiple challenges simultaneously.

Conclusion

Now that you’re armed with insights and practical tips, it’s time to take action! Here are a few ideas:

• Join a Climate Fresk/Digital Collage workshop: Ever wanted to gain a deeper understanding of our changing climate system? These interactive workshop breaks down the IPCC climate report in a fun, engaging way. PALO IT hosts community workshops every two months, so follow us or the Climate Fresk community to join in!

• Explore how your organization can better use IT to drive sustainability: Tools like the impact tracker can support robust ESG tracking allowing companies to incorporate sustainability into their sustainability planning

• Engage with your community: Start conversations about sustainability within your design team or local industry. Our Design and Strategy team are always looking to collaborate with like minded professionals - feel free to reach out!

• Share your journey: Document your experiences integrating sustainability into your designs. Blog about it, post on social media, or even write an article for a design publication.

Are you prepared to incorporate sustainability into your design practices or delve deeper into systems thinking? Reach out to us today to discover more about our workshops, collaborative ventures, or how we can assist your organization in fostering impactful change. Together, let's build a sustainable future!