Systems Disciplines: Table Stakes for 21st Century Organizations
Summary
When products and services change fundamentally, the practice of Design must change fundamentally, also. What has become of Design in the 21st century, and what is the role of Systems? What does leadership mean and what is innovation, really? Language, conversation, diversity, responsibility, ethics, experimentation are in the necessary mix for today's organizations.
Key Insights
-
•
Systemic design requires viewing products and services as parts of purpose-driven systems involving feedback loops.
-
•
Cybernetics, the science of systems with purpose, originated in the 1940s and is foundational to modern systemic design.
-
•
Design is subjective and framed by individual perspectives; acknowledging this is essential for ethical design.
-
•
Diversity of viewpoints and multi-stakeholder conversation are necessary to avoid narrow or biased design outcomes.
-
•
Shared language and values within organizations enable coordinated action and adaptability to changing environments.
-
•
Organizations must consciously evolve their language and mental models or risk becoming obsolete.
-
•
Conversations about the quality and inclusivity of dialogues in design teams help surface trade-offs and align goals.
-
•
The cybernetic cycle of sensing, comparing to goals, and acting is a universal mechanism applicable to design teams.
-
•
Embracing imperfection in framing means testing assumptions continuously and embracing learning from error.
-
•
Effective systemic design integrates individual accountability with collective consensus to achieve ethical outcomes.
Notable Quotes
"You cannot do design today, even product or service design, without being systemically engaged."
"Cybernetics is the discipline of systems with purpose, looking at how a system acts to achieve its goals."
"Design requires teams because you can't be expert in everything—from pixels to hardware to databases."
"Conversation is 21st century design; it's how we share values, align intentions, and coordinate action."
"If you don't have shared language and values, you can't coordinate your actions or agree on what to do."
"Organizations succeed when they have a language that works today but must evolve it to survive tomorrow."
"We design with our biases and subjectivities, so we must work with diverse stakeholders to avoid tunnel vision."
"You have to be responsible for your viewpoint—you can't claim objectivity and ignore the impact."
"The cybernetic feedback loop is sensing, comparing to a goal, and acting to correct course."
"Conversations create new language, allowing us to see possibilities that old language couldn’t reveal."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"Relinquishing control over implementation empowered community-driven solutions and fostered lasting trust."
Alexia Cohen Adriane AckermanIncreasing Health Equity and Improving the Service Experience for Under-Served Latine Communities in Arizona
December 4, 2024
"You want to let participants know it’s a bit non-typical and they are not being tricked or evaluated."
Marc Majers Tony TurnerInterrupted UX - Add A Dose of Reality To Usability Testing
March 11, 2022
"Design thinking has helped raise awareness but often lacks the depth of design practice which requires dedicated craft."
Jorge ArangoDesign as an Antidote to VUCA
May 9, 2019
"Design your processes around learning. Celebrate especially when you fail—you often learn the most then."
Brenna FallonLearning Over Outcomes
October 24, 2019
"Belonging means understanding the shape, size, and cause of your community and your unique purpose in it."
Daniel GloydWarming the User Experience: Lessons from America's first and most radical human-centered designers
May 9, 2024
"People with disabilities often pay more to buy from stores they trust are accessible and where they feel confident."
Sam ProulxOnline Shopping: Designing an Accessible Experience
October 3, 2023
"Teachers need actionable insights, not just raw data."
Kristin SkinnerFive Years of DesignOps
September 29, 2021
"Designers are change agents. This is part of your passion and what gets you up in the morning."
Denise Jacobs Nancy Douyon Renee Reid Lisa WelchmanInteractive Keynote: Social Change by Design
January 8, 2024
"If you're not doing recruitment in-house and have to outsource three different agencies, managing timelines becomes a nightmare."
Roberta Dombrowski Lianna Aduana5 Reasons to Bring your Recruiting in House
September 30, 2021
