Introductory description

This module is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles, methodologies, and applications of practices found in Systemic and Strategic Design, formed through the critical underpinning of the three pillars of sustainability: Economy, Environment and Society. In today's rapidly changing and complex global landscape, businesses and organisations are increasingly recognising the importance of integrating sustainability into their strategic decision-making processes. This module aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute effectively to sustainable design practices in organisations of various industries, by learning decision making processes based on systems thinking and complexity-based design. This module will support students in creating of their own positionality regarding sustainable transitions and regenerative mindsets.

Module aims

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.

Throughout this module students will be reviewing a complex organisation and seeking out its areas of leverage for a design intervention in form of sustainable strategy. The design process of creating a sustainable strategy for the organisation's development will present students with challenges of system analysis, complexity-ridden research methodology, sustainable systems sense-making processes as well as the co-design through democratised, non-extractive approaches to the scoping of a strategy. The learning journey will culminate in a strategy proposal and implementation plan which will seek to enable sustainable transition for the organisation.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the foundational theories, and practices of sustainable strategic design, recognising the interconnectedness of ecological, social, and economic factors.
• Demonstrate the application of systemic design framework to integrate sustainability into organisational decision-making.
• Develop capabilities in designing, delivering and implementing strategy for sustainable development.
• Systemically evaluate the impact of design choices and integrate systems mapping into sense-making and decision-making processes.
• Apply sustainable principles of strategic design towards promoting resource efficiency through innovative and circular design solutions.
• Demonstrate effective collaboration and co-design in interdisciplinary teams by engaging diverse stakeholders in the design process.
• Demonstrate strong communication skills and articulate sustainable strategy with clarity and precision.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Interdisciplinary

This module will be delivered between two faculties which encourage inter-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary learning environments. Students taking this PGT course will be from different disciplinary background and the rationale of this is reflecting the common practices in industry which requires adaptable and agile strategic designers.

Subject specific skills

Systemic Design
Strategic Design
Systems Thinking
Systems Mapping
Strategy Scoping and Realisation
Systemic Design Methods
Complexity Analysis via Sustainability Frameworks
Design Innovation Methods
Design Thinking
Co-Design
Strategy Implementation and Impact Tracking
Project Management and Networked Leadership
Design Ethics
Sustainability-based Problem Solving

Transferable skills

Critical Thinking
Systems Thinking
Morphological Analysis
Adaptability and Agility
Communication Skills
Co-Design Skills
Project Management
Sustainability-based Problem Solving
Presentation Skills