Designing Through Complexity - Four Perspectives.pdf
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Climate breakdown, geopolitical instability, technological disruption, social fragmentation - they don’t come one at a time, and they don’t exist in isolation. Instead, we’re facing a polycrisis: multiple interconnected challenges that reinforce and amplify each other. At the same time, designers, strategists and change-makers are being handed ever more powerful tools; from AI to advanced data platforms, but often without the frameworks needed to use them responsibly, ethically, or effectively. In this Morgenbooster, we take a wide-angle look at the moment we’re in. What does it mean to design in, and with, complexity? What happens when we combine systems thinking with new technologies? And how do we stay grounded, critical and creative in the face of overlapping crises?
Designing Through Complexity - Four Perspectives.pdf
- 2. Is this it? Is this really all there is? Collapsing ecologies. Moral dissolution. Zero-sum politics. Hyper-aggressive masculinity. Loneliness and division fueled by tech oligarchs. Our very humanity challenged by wrongfully use of AI. Will our societies become super-optimized regimes of ugliness and sterility? Or can we imagine a world where beauty is not just appreciated but essential and design is the enabler?
- 3. Shift: Simple > Highly complex
- 4. Shift: Philosophy / Methodology
- 5. We are dedicated to driving systemic transitions toward authentic, sustainable and regenerative futures by creating responsibly designed digital experiences. Dare to matter to create meaningful change.
- 6. Not just any. We will be taking a stance and push for the shifts needed to be proud of what we pass on to the generations that comes after us. We will intervene systems and move them towards authentic sustainable and regenerative futures. What systemic transitions?
- 7. What we design - designs us back. We will design for a better future by making all our outputs ethical, sustainable, inclusive and accessible. We are aware of our impact, side effects and how our interventions push to the systems we are a part of. Responsible how?
- 8. Facilitate transitions Future visions Fundraising Systems mapping Transition design … Strategic foresight … Storytelling Intervention strategy Create experiences Corporate narratives Websites Brand platform Apps Prototypes User journeys Campaigns Visual identities Concept ideation Human centered research User testing Copywriting Illustrations Business model shis Weaving
- 9. Business design Futures design Transition design Experience design
- 11. Think What’s the problem really? Create Explore, prototype, test, learn. Build Develop to evolve Experience design
- 13. Think What’s the problem really? Create Explore, prototype, test, learn. Build Develop to evolve
- 14. Think What’s the problem really? Create Explore, prototype, test, learn. Build Develop to evolve
- 15. Think What’s the problem really? Create Explore, prototype, test, learn. Build Develop to evolve Ideate Empathise Define Prototype Test
- 16. Experience Design Theoretically working in this space User Situation User Aspiration
- 17. User Situation Solution User Aspiration User Situation User Situation Solution User Aspiration Solution User Aspiration Experience Design Theoretically working in this space
- 19. Design thinking is dead What has changed?
- 20. Design thinking is dead Design is dead What has changed?
- 21. Design thinking is dead Design is dead UX is dead What has changed?
- 22. I disagree, the core foundation of design and a designers mindset have never been more important… what has changed is the context within which we become relevant
- 23. AI Insourcing Everyone is a designer Context change
- 24. AI Insourcing Everyone is a designer Context change Critical reflection & intention
- 25. Think What’s the problem really? Create Explore, prototype, test, learn. Build Develop to evolve
- 26. The pillars What we stand on
- 27. Empathy Humans being humans Bias awareness Responsibility
- 28. Empathy Curiosity Asking until it makes sense Reframe Asking why Humans being humans Bias awareness Responsibility and intention
- 29. Empathy Humans being humans Bias awareness Responsibility and intention Visualising - pen to paper Imagination Storytelling Asking why Tangibility Curiosity Asking until it makes sense Reframe
- 30. AI Designing the right thing Designing the thing right
- 31. Business design Futures design Transition design Experience design
- 32. Business design
- 33. Business design Solution User Aspiration User Problem Strategy Execution
- 34. User Situation Solution User Aspiration User Situation User Situation Solution User Aspiration Solution User Aspiration Solution Solution Solution Too user centric? Experience Design Empathy for the user
- 35. User Situation Solution User Aspiration User Situation User Situation Solution User Aspiration Solution User Aspiration Solution Solution Solution Business Design Empathy for the business Strategy Vision Strategic goal Focus area Strategic goal Strategic goal Focus area Focus area Mission
- 36. Strategy Vision Strategic goal Focus area Strategic goal Strategic goal Focus area Focus area Mission User Situation Solution User Aspiration User Situation User Situation Solution User Aspiration Solution User Aspiration Solution Solution Solution Business Design Empathy for the business STRATEGY EXECUTION Dynamic Roadmap
- 37. Strategy Vision Strategic goal Focus area Strategic goal Strategic goal Focus area Focus area Mission User Situation Solution User Aspiration User Situation User Situation Solution User Aspiration Solution User Aspiration Solution Solution Solution Business Design Empathy for the business Hypothesis User behaviour Business value User experience STRATEGY EXECUTION Hypothesis driven approach
- 38. Strategy Vision Strategic goal Focus area Strategic goal Strategic goal Focus area Focus area Mission User Situation Solution User Aspiration User Situation User Situation Solution User Aspiration Solution User Aspiration Solution Solution Solution Business Design Empathy for the business Back bone It allows the strategy to empower direction and mandate in project teams …and the project teams to inform strategy Project teams have to prove business value by solving user problems …and the hypothesis driven approach forces us to navigate dynamically Hypothesis User behaviour Business value User experience STRATEGY EXECUTION
- 39. Dynamic Roadmap Business design web app
- 40. Strategy Vision Strategic goal Focus area Strategic goal Strategic goal Focus area Focus area Mission User Situation Solution User Aspiration User Situation User Situation Solution User Aspiration Solution User Aspiration Solution Solution Solution Too reactive? Users Business Business Design Empathy for the business STRATEGY EXECUTION
- 41. Strategy Vision Strategic goal Focus area Strategic goal Strategic goal Focus area Focus area Mission User Situation Solution User Aspiration User Situation User Situation Solution User Aspiration Solution User Aspiration Solution Solution Solution HMW Challenge the vision? HMW Prepare for change? HMW Prepare for change? Business Design Empathy for the business STRATEGY EXECUTION
- 42. Business design Futures design Transition design Experience design
- 43. Futures design
- 45. The future is fluffy and abstract So, how can we make it concrete and easier to talk about and take into account?
- 46. The future is not a fixed destination
- 47. Futures Design is a method for creating concrete stories and artifacts about a possible future. It makes it more tangible to feel and relate and talk about where we want to go as an organization, and helps us transform uncertainty and fear into inspiration and vision. Futures thinking can be applied to start conversations, explore alternative scenarios or develop products that proactively seeks to shape desired outcomes. Futures Design Exploring possible and preferable futures
- 49. Futures Thinking The desired future we want to design for! Holoptic Futures Thinking
- 50. Futures x Design
- 51. The funnel The collected signals and scenarios are possible starting points for new projects. Global trends Internal interests Scan signals
- 52. The funnel The collected signals and scenarios are possible starting points for new projects. Global trends Internal interests Identify patterns Scan signals
- 53. Identify patterns Vision scenarios The funnel The collected signals and scenarios are possible starting points for new projects. Global trends Internal interests Scan signals
- 54. The funnel The collected signals and scenarios are possible starting points for new projects. Global trends Internal interests Identify patterns Scan signals Build concepts Vision scenarios
- 55. My idea, not MitID Our ID! No ID! Good idea! Voice of the People, Strength of Community With law you should control the land The contract of liberty The declarations of freedom!
- 56. Strength of Community My idea, not MitID
- 57. Strength of the Community The cooperative mindset is alive, leading to a society where all institutions are governed through direct democracy rather than professional boards or market forces. In this new society, citizens' engagement and active participation in political decisions are crucial, with the population playing a direct role in shaping their own community. My idea, not MitID In an era dominated by hyper-individualism, people strive to optimize themselves in all areas, supported by advances in technology. Everything from work to personal life is designed to cater to individual needs and desires. It's all highly personalized and data-driven. This data can be actively utilized by pension companies to create completely tailored solutions that represent each individual member.
- 58. Strategy Vision Strategic goal Focus area Strategic goal Strategic goal Focus area Focus area Mission User Situation Solution User Aspiration User Situation User Situation Solution User Aspiration Solution User Aspiration Solution Solution Solution Output Outcome Preferable future Backcasting Backcasting Backcasting Backcasting
- 59. Strategy Vision Strategic goal Focus area Strategic goal Strategic goal Focus area Focus area Mission User Situation Solution User Aspiration User Situation User Situation Solution User Aspiration Solution User Aspiration Solution Solution Solution Preferable future Backcasting Backcasting Backcasting Backcasting Futures Design Exploring possible and preferable futures Too human centered? Too narrow-minded and superficial?
- 60. Business design Futures design Transition design Experience design
- 62. Transition design In love with systems thinking
- 63. Transition Design addresses complex, systemic challenges —such as climate change, social inequality, and unsustainable lifestyles—by envisioning and facilitating long-term societal transitions toward more sustainable futures. Terry Irwin, Carnegie Mellon University, School of design, November 2015
- 64. Transition Design represents a paradigm shift in design, expanding the role of designers to actively engage in shaping sustainable and equitable futures …through systemic, collaborative, and long-term approaches.
- 65. Design with intention We’re no longer “just” designing initiatives - we’re designing with intention. In other words, we are designing interventions, with the intention to transition a system into a future vision. Project Vision Collectively build Future vision Client project Ecosystem of stakeholders
- 66. Transition design The land use movement
- 67. Status quo Transition design helps us understand what’s wrong with the world today,
- 68. Status quo • Mapping the nodes, or variables, of the system • Analysing cause and effect • Identify the dynamics of the system to understand why it malfunctions
- 69. …and imagine what kind of future we want instead. Future vision
- 70. A balanced system where land use supports ecological regeneration, by embodying practises that sustain both people and planet. Future vision
- 72. Leverage hypothesis Leverage hypothesis Leverage hypothesis Liberate land use from extractive interests Enable the establishment of regenerative land use Localise supply chains Status quo Extraction Future vision Regeneration
- 73. Current distribution of land use Lobbyism and subsidies Consumer demand Change ownership of conventional farmland? Reveal hidden costs of conventional practises? Incentivise long- term farming strategies? Adapted from Systems Mapping Academy
- 74. How might we…. Interventions Circumvent the economic dependency of privately owned conventional farmland. Buy out land Enact §73 of the Danish constitution in the name of the common good. Expropriation Lease privately owned farmland for regenerative purposes. Leasing Change ownership of conventional farmland?
- 75. Liberate land use from extractive interests Enable the establishment of regenerative land use Localise supply chains Status quo Extraction Future vision Regeneration Circumv Buy out Enact Expropr Lease Leasing Interventions Leverage hypothesis Leverage hypothesis Circumv Buy out Enact Expropr Interventions Circumv Buy out Enact Expropr Interventions Circumv Buy out Enact Expropr Leverage hypothesis
- 76. Mobiliser of efforts We are reaching out to other potential partners and stakeholders to join the movement - some are already intervening in the status quo Problem framing Problem scoping, systems mapping, shared storytelling and future vision. Identify leverage points Those places where a small intervention could have a big ripple effect. And when you find those points, that’s when you bring in your classic design thinking tools. Partner Interventions The partner foundation is moving ahead with their initiatives, now framed as an interventions Regeneration Future vision Extraction Status quo Facilitate a shared journey Raising funds to facilitate the transition journey as well as future interventions Co-create interventions Design and launch interventions that brings us closer to shared future vision. Even if you don’t “solve the system,” you start to shift it. Think Create Build
- 77. At 1508 we approach transition design in two ways Project Vision Collectively build Future vision 2 From systems thinking to interventions 1 From interventions to systems change
- 78. Business design Futures design Transition design Experience design
- 79. • Den grønne koalition • Det digitale inklusionspanel • Nordic Sustainability • Transition Collective • Danish Design Center • Wellbeing alliance • Den sociale kapitalfond • KR Foundation • Realdania • Trygfonden • Hempel fonden • Velux fonden • Novo Nordisk fonden • DK Naturfredningsforening • Equalis • Concito • WELA • Alohas 3 themes Different partners
- 83. Kræftens Bekæmpelse Women in menopause
- 86. Stray Emergence fund for regenerative economy https://stray.works/
- 89. We are experimenting on offering transition design and systems thinking services to boards. They can look beyond the short term profit-oriented strategy and navigate towards long term systemic transformations. New target group Boards Transition Design and systems thinking. A strategic lever for building organisational resilience and long-term value.
- 90. Upcoming Courses Fall 2025 • Transition design - where systems thinking meets design • Learn Design Thinking with your company as the case
- 91. Fall 2025 • Designing through complexity - five perspectives • Beyond Greenwashing: Unlocking sustainability literacy • Navigating AI criticism with systems thinking • Designing lovable experiences • Case study: Designing for creative kids - neurodivergent or not Upcoming Morgenboosters
- 92. Thank you Q&A