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Summary
Many of today’s processes and methods for design thinking and UX design feel limited in a world where we use these approaches to solve complex problems. Systems thinking is a mindset and approach that helps designers broaden their lens and empowers them to increase their impact. In this community call, learn from Sheryl Cababa, acclaimed author of Closing the Loop: Systems Thinking for Designers.
Key Insights
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Traditional user-centered design often fails to address systemic forces and potential harms beyond immediate user benefit.
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Systems thinking involves three key concepts: interconnectedness, causality, and wholeness.
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Unintended consequences frequently arise from yesterday's solutions, highlighting the need for systemic awareness.
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Engaging a broad set of stakeholders, including marginalized populations, is crucial for effective systems interventions.
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Systems mapping techniques like causal loop diagrams and iceberg models facilitate shared understanding and stakeholder alignment.
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Multi-finality means there is no single solution; multiple interventions may be needed across socio-cultural, technological, environmental, economic, and political dimensions.
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Evaluating interventions continuously and looping back to analysis helps identify radiating effects and adapt strategies.
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Understanding stakeholders' incentive structures is essential to align efforts and foresee conflicts in complex systems.
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Systems thinking complements but is distinct from strategic thinking; it requires strategic awareness but focuses on broad systemic impacts.
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Making systems thinking accessible to designers means integrating it into familiar design processes rather than overwhelming practitioners with complexity.
Notable Quotes
"Today's problems come from yesterday’s solutions."
"Designers need to be facilitators of other people's expertise and knowledge, not just creators of things."
"There is no silver bullet in systemic change; we often need multiple interventions in different areas."
"By myopically focusing on a single part, designers can miss the elephant in the room."
"We have to think about what outcomes we really want, not just immediate fixes."
"Systems thinking helps us consider unintended consequences more explicitly and deliberate longer-term change."
"Engaging marginalized voices is a critical lever for success that is often missing in formal systems thinking."
"Understanding incentives of stakeholders is crucial because assumptions often lead to misaligned decisions."
"Good systems thinking requires continuous engagement with diverse stakeholders, not working in a vacuum."
"I wrote this book to translate complex systems thinking into something accessible and practical for designers."
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