Systems Understanding + Design = Innovation

Halogen and the Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO) now offer a practice-oriented innovation program using systemic design as a tool. This modular learning program, through theory, reflection, and real-world practice, will enable you to understand and apply systemic design in your daily work.

By working on a self-defined and relevant case, you will gain practical experience in systemic design and a solid theoretical foundation to take action and create solutions for complex problems.

What is systemic design?

In both the public and private sectors, we see that demands for efficiency, security, and quality lead to systems growing in scope and complexity. At the same time, digitalisation leads to new forms of interaction and data handling, and demands for sustainability mean that more businesses need to understand the system they are part of in a completely different way than before.

Systemic design is about understanding connections and “the whole” within extensive systems. The goal is to identify correct problem definitions and create a better basis for shaping and making good decisions. We alternate between zooming out to look at the whole, and zooming back in to look at details, over and over again.

In a system that perhaps consists of hundreds of employees, thousands of users, and a jungle of stakeholders, it can be challenging to pinpoint exactly where the problem lies. Therefore, we use visualisation to deal with complexity. With the help of large system maps, so-called gigamaps, we facilitate good, consensual conversations and discussions about problems we see and phenomena we should learn more about. We become better able to retain details and relationships, and we get help finding the critical points we should address.

Systemic design also involves taking the user's perspective and putting people at the center. But it helps little to only look at people if we do not simultaneously understand the role that economics, politics, security, culture, ethics, sustainability, legislation, and technical considerations play. Systemic design is about understanding this whole and mapping where pain points and potential gains lie.

Become more confident in what you should change, when and how

The learning program is facilitated by leading professionals and lecturers in systemic design, service design, and innovation. As a result of the program, you will gain tools that enable you to approach complex issues in a better way. You will become better at defining which problems you should tackle in what order, and more confident in your priorities regarding what change you should create and how.

In collaboration with the Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO). The Institute of Design teaches, researches, and develops knowledge within industrial design, interaction design, service design, and system-oriented design. The institute offers design education from foundation courses to PhD level. Halogen has worked closely with AHO for many years and houses some of Norway's leading experts in systemic design in practice.