DI209-15 Systemic Design
Introductory description
This module will engage students in the processes and methods of Systemic Design. From systems thinking to practice, this module will prepare students for the processes of dealing with complexity as an aspiring designer. As a basis for sustainable innovation, this module will introduce students to systemic practice towards understanding how to research a system and its models, how to read and scope a system, how to map and synthesise it and scope design interventions in multiple areas of leverage towards systems change. This module will be linked to real life contexts of local and regional communities, where students will be able to engage and research how these groups are experiencing the systems around them whilst prompting them to learn how to recognise design mismatch and map this accordingly.
The module will challenge students to learn how to construct different exploratory and analytical systems maps as well as undertake multi-stakeholder design thinking workshops. As part of this module students will be undertaking critical ethical studies and learning inventive and standardised methods to qualitative research to enable a growing systemic tool kit ready for application in the public and private sector. The focus of the module will be the explication and dissemination of systems narratives through design methods.
Module aims
This module aims to introduce students to concepts of systems thinking and systemic design. It will aim to foster student's understanding of mapping methods and systems synthesis for application in complex large scale design problems. This learning journey will aim to enable student's abilities in dealing with complexity and uncertainty when designing for change through multi-solving methods. As such, the module serves a key purpose in the curriculum to bind student's emerging interdisciplinary practices with a holistic methodology with options of emerging specialisms in their final year. This module aims to prepare students for a plethora of design and change-making occupations in the public and private sector.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Week 1 - Introduction to systems and complexity and brief setting. Weeks 2-3 - Working through systems thinking, mapping and complexity science. Weeks 4 -8 - Workshops on systems research and practice. Week 9 - Pre-submission Symposium 10/ Live presentation, showcase and hand in.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- To demonstrate an understanding of systemic design and systems thinking.
- To demonstrate skills in systems mapping and explicating of systems narratives.
- To develop skills in multi-stakeholder workshop facilitation and presentation.
- To develop abilities in inventive and standardised qualitative research.
Research element
Students will be undertaking qualitative research into how specific local or regional communities experience the systems around them. This will be done through standardised and inventive methods.
Interdisciplinary
Systemic design by nature is a multi and cross-disciplinary endeavour, therefore will entail a pluralistic and holistic approach to collaborating disciplines.
International
The content of this module is drawn from a broad set of international precedents and practitioners allowing for a multi-perspective exploration of design practice.
Subject specific skills
Systems thinking
Systems mapping.
Multi-solving.
Design thinking.
Systemic design process.
Facilitation of multi-stakeholder workshops.
Transferable skills
Systems thinking
Systems mapping.
Multi-solving.
Design thinking.
Systemic design process.
Facilitation of multi-stakeholder workshops.
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 10 sessions of 3 hours (20%) |
| Private study | 40 hours (27%) |
| Assessment | 80 hours (53%) |
| Total | 150 hours |
Private study description
Students are required to undertake asynchronous activities as prompted by the facilitator as well as undertake qualitative research via field studies outside of scheduled contact hours. Alongside this students will work independently on their systems maps and reflective pieces, which will be reviewed in pitch and crit sessions.
Costs
| Category | Description | Funded by | Cost to student |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment and project costs |
Materials will be supplied for workshop inductions and course-based teaching sessions. While there will be some provision of basic materials, students will drive their own practice and therefore may require a broader set of materials and/or tools than can be provided. This will be very individual and will be at the student’s cost. |
Student | £0.00 |
| Printing and photocopying |
Students have the option to print their work using University printers by purchasing print credit. This cost is not covered by the department. |
Student | £0.00 |
You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A1
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
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| Systems Map and Narrative | 80% | 40 hours | No |
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This assignment will consist out of a collection of systems maps that students will be developing and designing through the course of this module. Once synthesised and intersected with their community research this will lead students to the explicating of the corresponding systems narrative which will be delivered as part of the live assessment. |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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| Critical and Reflective Research Analysis | 20% | 40 hours | Yes (extension) |
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Student will be undertaking this analysis as a culmination of the brief and will be given a template to critically and reflectively account for their learning process and outcomes. |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Feedback on assessment
Formal and informal, class-based, live assessments and written feedback in line with rubric.
Pre-requisites
To take this module, you must have passed:
Courses
This module is Core for:
- Year 2 of UDIA-H1L8 Undergraduate Design and Global Sustainable Development