SYSTEMIC

DESIGN
TOOLKIT

Systemic
Design
Toolkit
Guide
Design tools
to tackle
complexity

The entity of challenges we are facing is becoming

more complex, and conventional ways of problem
solving do not work anymore. In this fundamental
shift, systemic design seems to provide an answer
to tackle such complexity.

The systemic design toolkit is conceived by

designers and change-makers willing to trigger a
process of systemic tranformation. The tools are
meant to be used during collaborative co-creation
sessions.

This booklet will guide you through a selection

of eight techniques from the toolkit. These are
categorised according to different phases of the
design process, but that does not mean that you
cannot use them in different ways. We invite you
to be creative, to use and adapt them to your
project. We hope this kit will be the trigger to start
a creative conversation and catalyse a process of
change.

3
The toolkit
methodology
7 steps
SYSTEMS THINKING DESIGN THINKING

Framing
the system

Listening
to the system

Understanding
the system

Defining
the desired future

Exploring
the possibility space

Designing the
intervention model

Fostering
the transition
5
Step 1
Framing the
system
Setting the boundaries
of your system in space
and time, identifying the
hypothetical parts and
relationships.

7
 RIC H C O N TE X T
Framing the system

EMERGING NICHE INITIATIVES

e.g. pilot programs, social innovation
cases, new technology, start-ups applications

CURRENT SYSTEM

S EC
RE ON
TU
Ma
rke OM
RUC t, fi
na
IC
es nc
ST ct
ur
ru
in
gc
on
S
st
AL

su

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er m
w
ON

pt
po

UC
,

io
TI

ns

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n,
tio
ITU

pr
la

RE
o
gu

du
ST

re

ct

S
ion
,

-TERM TRENDS
les
IN

LONG

,d
Ru

ist
rib
ut
ion
rs
No

vio
rm

ha
s

nd
be
a

&
S

va es
CU

CE

lu in
es ut
UR
LT

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TI

E AC
PR

SYSTEMIC
DESIGN
TOOLKIT

8
Rich context

Materials What

• Rich context template A technique that helps you understand the “big
picture” by mapping the current practices, trends
• sticky notes and innovative initiatives in the system.
• markers
Use it to generate shared understanding about
the current situation and identify the profiles you
should interview in your field studies.

Instructions

Get a grip on the current situation by using the

template. Map:

1. Long-term trends. Write the trends affecting the

issue on sticky notes (e.g. climate change, popula-
tion growth, ageing, resources depletion…). Cluster
them in the center of the poster.

2. Current system: map the established ways of

doing (how is society currently dealing with the
issue? e.g. cultural and social norms, practices,
rules, infrastructure, existing networks, power
relations, ...).

3. Emerging niche initiatives: map the alternative

ways of doing (what are the new, innovative ways of
dealing with the issue?).

9
Step 2
Listening to
the system
Listening to the
experiences of people
and discovering how
the interactions lead to
the system’s behaviour.
Verifying the initial
hypotheses.

11
12
ACTANTS
Listening to the system

ACTANT 1 ACTANT 2

Expectations Expectations

Concerns Concerns

EXCHANGE

gives gives

gets gets

SYSTEMIC
Download more tools at systemicdesigntoolkit.org DESIGN
TOOLKIT
Actants

Materials What

• interview notes A way to model, summarize and communicate your

systemic field research. The Actants describe an
• Actants template archetypical relationship.
• markers
• pictures Use the tool as a base to understand and map the
system: it is useful to extract influencing variables
from the field studies.

Instructions

1. Go through your interview notes/transcripts from

the field studies. Study a relationship between two
roles (e.g. child, teacher). For each of them, choose
a picture.

2. List the expectations and concerns of each

actant for the analysed relationship.
What do they expect from each other, and what are
they afraid of?

3. Map what is exchanged between the actants.

What do they give to/receive from each other?

13
Step 3
Under-
standing
the system
Seeing how the variables
and interactions
influence the dynamics
and emergent behaviour.
Identifying the leverage
points to work with.

15
 SYSTEM MAP
Understanding the system

INFLUENCERS
Variables/loops

QUANTITATIVE

QUALITATIVE

ACTANT 1 IDEAL RELATIONSHIP ACTANT 2

QUALITATIVE

QUANTITATIVE

SYSTEMIC
DESIGN
TOOLKIT

16
System map

Materials What

• System map template A technique for visualising the system, its structure
and the interrelations between its elements.
• interview notes
• actants Map the system to develop shared understanding
• sticky notes between the stakeholders about its complexity and
interdependencies. Also, use the map to discover
• markers
the leverage points in the system.

Instructions

1. Ideal relationship: make the ideal relationship

between the actants explicit, by identifying the
qualitative/quantitative variables exchanged be-
tween them. Write them on post-its and stick them
in the center of the poster.

2. Influencers: look back at the stories that

emerged from your interviews. Identify causal
loops and draw them around the “ideal future”.

3. Leverage points: connect the variables in the

loops to the core exchanges. Follow the logic of
growth and balance of the feedback loop diagrams.

Now look at the connections. Which variables are

the most influencing for the core relationship?
Note them down, as they are the leverage points.

17
Step 4
Defining
the desired
future
Helping the stakeholders
articulate the common
desired future and the
intended value creation.

19
 VALUE PROPOSITION
Defining the desired future

ECO NOMICAL What would you like to see achieved

(tangible and intangible) ? E C OLOGIC A L
ON SOCIETAL LEVEL

ATIONAL/ECOSYSTEM
ANIS
ORG LEV
EL
ON

IDUAL LEV
INDIV EL
ON

e.g. prosperity e.g. profit e.g. value for money e.g. eco-footprint e.g. sustainability e.g. livability

e.g. wellbeing e.g. shared drivers e.g. happiness e.g. belonging e.g. reciprocity e.g. meaningful life

PSYCHOLO G I C AL What would you like to see achieved ?

(tangible and intangible) SOC IA L
SYSTEMIC
DESIGN
TOOLKIT

20
Value proposition

Materials What

• Value proposition A tool to make the ideal future explicit, by listing

the benefits that the interventions will bring to the
template future individuals, organisations and society.
• sticky notes
• markers Use the tool to stretch the ambition of the group
and align the stakeholders on the intended
outcomes.

Instructions

Look at the leverage points you need to tackle,

and think about the future situation you want to
achieve by intervening in the system. Focus on
different aspects (ecological/economic benefits,
social values, ...).

1. Brainstorm on the benefits you want to provide

for the single individuals: write them on sticky
notes and place them in the center of the poster.

2. Write down the benefits that organisations/the

ecosystem will get. Place them around the first
circle.

3. Write down the benefits that your interventions

will provide on a societal level. Place them around
the second circle.

21
Step 5
Exploring the
possibility
space
Exploring possible
ideas for intervening
on the leverage points.
Empowering the ideas
by working with the
paradoxes in the system.

23
 SYSTEMIC

TOOLKIT
DESIGN
NS OWS
LATIO
N FL
EGU
ATIO
S/R
RM
ation? INFO
RULE
d?
ange inform
be ch ns such ws of
ould tio
ns sh gula al.... ing flo
latio s and re d inform g/miss
regu le ckin
s and kind of ru formal an the la
t rule / t are S
Wha different legal,... Wha
OP
k of ral,
Thin al, cultu LO
ci
N as so
IO e,
CK
AT olv ns BA
IS ev s?
to lve
tio
ED
AN
la
rs e
? ca
to ms
es es
G ac e
on e FE
OR
e th
e iv G
th by tiv sit
-
N
er ga po I
LF w tem ne e
po sys it duc RC
SE em e FO
lim tro
e th or in
w
n ge IN
e
ca han
w
ow c
n
ca RE
H or ow
H
Exploring the space of possibilities

S
LOOP
chan e system

abili ge?

ACK
an
ty
ged?

increa e to ch
th

EDB
se st
LS

need ctives of

tanc
GOA

G FE
to be

How me resis
je
the ob

can we

NCIN
erco
that
t are

or ov
INTERVENTION

BALA
Wha

lts)?
need verturn?

tions reduce system

resu
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/o

cted
STRATEGY

the
minds to modify

expe
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et is
S

and
DIGM

to
ed

that itical de

YS
t chan do we ne

DELA
ge in

een ac
PARA

e cr
view

are th
world
Wha

Which

span
t
Wha

(time
t ?
..) en g
rr sin
.
cu mis
? ts
ed en e
ng /ev s th are
S ha ts it to t
/c tis lim e ha
ak t
R ed r ut
BE w le/a bo m es S
to on
RE
vie p a
UM re peo ns ts he
en re t
TU
be f isio
N S, ld r o ec em t a
S, NT ou be d ov a C
RU
sh um the pr wh
ER TA im r
ST
at , n e
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ET S th res
re tu L
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sid Wh
M ON t a uc
TA
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ha tr
RA GI
C (s
W al s
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ures
, dig
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able
ysical ing?
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e curre at are m
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ake th ove th th
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PACIT How
capa
Which or wh
TRUC
G CA
FERIN
IC AL S
PHYS
BUF

24
Intervention
strategy
Materials What

• Intervention A brainstorming tool to understand and explore on

which levels (how) you can intervene in the system.
strategy template
• sticky notes By exploring different possible typologies of
• markers intervention, you make sure the future combination
of interventions will cover the big picture.

Instructions

Look at your leverage points identified in the

system map: these are the challenges you are
going to tackle in order to achieve your desired
future.

Using the intervention strategy canvas:

- On which levels do you need to intervene to tackle
your challenges?
- What interventions are needed (e.g. improving
face-to-face communication, hiring more qualified
staff, taking more focused policy measures, raising
collective awareness on the topic, ...)?

Think about possible interventions, write them on

sticky notes. Stick your idea in the related area of
the canvas.

25
Step 6
Designing the
intervention
model
Defining the engine for
change and its variations.
Iterating by envisioning
its implementation in
different contexts.

27
28
Intervention
model
Materials What

• connectors The intervention model describes the DNA of

change within a system; it contains the principles/
• round sticky notes activities that will enable change in the system.
• markers  
By looking at how interventions connect and
reinforce each other, you can envision an effective
strategy for change.

Instructions

1. Review your ideas included in the intervention

strategy canvas: which of those can reinforce or
enable each other?

2. Transcribe the ideas on sticky notes.

3. Stick the post-its on the provided props. Use

them to connect your ideas. Build your model of
interconnected interventions.

29
 COLLABORATION
Compete
Striving to gain or win
something that is scarce

Intangib
le

PRESEN
Existing
only in th

CE
e mind

COLLABORATION

to achieve a common goal

Working together

Teamwork

h
e by touc
scernibl
Real, di

CE
PRESEN
Tangible
e
Intuitiv it
giving
ithout
tood w t
Unders much though
UNDE
RSTAND

Free
ING

BUSINESS MODEL

Given or available without

charge or obligation
ING
RSTAND

skill
Transf or behaviou
UNDE

erred
knowle r
dge,
Taugh
t
BUSINESS MODEL

goods or services
Exchanged for money,

Paid

30
Paradox cards

Materials What

• paradox cards The paradox cards stimulate paradoxical

thinking: bringing together the opposite sides of
• sticky notes a problematic situation to achieve solutions for
• markers the whole. The cards are useful to elaborate ideas
into more concrete concepts, and ensure such
concepts create positive reinforcing loops.

Instructions

Go through the paradox cards set:

1. Assign a paradox card to each intervention idea.

Choose a card that best describes the idea. Which
end of the paradox does the idea cover?

2. Evolve your intervention model, by refining the

existing ideas or adding new ones.
Make sure that:
- the “open” side of your paradoxes is covered as
well;
- the interventions representing the sides of each
paradox reinforce each other.

31
Step 7
Fostering the
transition
Defining how the
interventions will mature,
grow and finally be
adopted in the system.

33
34
ROADMAP FOR TRANSITION BY DESIGN
Fostering the transition ERS
OLD
EH
AK
ST
S/
T OR
AC

NETWORK UNFOLDING OVER TIME

SOCIETY
cultural adoption ION
NT
ERS
VE L
OLD
ER E
K EH INT MOD sion
TA r
/S l ve
RS ful
TO
AC

ORGANISATION/
ECOSYSTEM
socio-technical ION
embedding NT
ER
VE L
E n
S sio
LDER INT MOD e ver
EHO t
T AK dia
/S e S
RS t erm TIE
TO in IVI
AC ACT

ION
NT
VE L
ER E le
INT MOD viab
im um
min S
TIE
IVI
ACT

S
TIE
IVI
ACT
USER
stand-alone ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE UNFOLDING OVER TIME

INCUBATING CONNECTING SCALING UP

SYSTEMIC
DESIGN
TOOLKIT
Roadmap for
transition
Materials What

• Roadmap for The roadmap for transition is a tool to plan the

implementation of the interventions in a way that
transition template change occurs by design.
• sticky notes
• intervention model You use it to map the transition towards the
desired goal by planning and growing the
intervention model in time and space.

Instructions

Look at your intervention model:

1. First circle: what is the minimal version of the

intervention model that you can implement in a
first stage? On sticky notes, describe the minimal
version of the activities you plan to implement,
along with the actors involved.

2. Second circle: once the first activities are

accomplished, how can you connect them to like-
minded people/organisations? Write down the
names of such actors, and the activities you need
to create learning networks.

3. Third circle: how can you make sure your

interventions become an established practice in
the current system and reach the large public?

35
About
the toolkit
“Remember, always, that
everything you know,
and everything everyone
knows, is only a model.
Get your model out there
where it can be viewed.
Invite others to challenge
your assumptions and
add their own”.
Donella Meadows
Thinking in Systems: A Primer

37
The creators

A few years ago, the need of tackling increasingly

complex projects pushed Namahn and shiftN
to collaborate on a Systemic Design toolkit.
At the RSD5 symposium in Toronto (2016), the
two partners presented the first version of the
toolkit and assessed its fit for purpose during the
conference workshop.

Since then, the original authors collaborated with

Peter Jones (Systemic Design Association) and
Alex Ryan (MaRS Discovery District) for continued
development of the toolkit towards a mature
version, ready for use.

38
Kristel Van Ael,
Namahn

Philippe Vandenbroeck,
Shiftn

Alex Ryan,
Mars Solutions Lab

Peter Jones,
Systemic Design
Association

39
Further reading

Braun, W. 2002. The System Archetypes.

Christakis, A.N. 2014. An Epic Learning Journey:

From the Club of Rome to Dialogic Design Science
and Demosophia. Social Systems and Design,
Translational Systems Sciences, Springer.

den Ouden, E. 2012. Innovation Design. Creat-

ing Value for People, Organizations and Society.
Springer.

Dorst, K. 2006. Design Problems and Design Para-

doxes. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Esmonde, P. 2002. Notes on the Role of Leader-

ship and Language in Regenerating Organizations.
Based on conversations that took place in 2002
with Dr. Paul Pangaro and Dr. Michael Geoghegan.
Dubberly Design Office

Geels, F.W. 2004. Processes and patterns in transi-

tions and system innovations: Refining the co-evo-
lutionary multi-level perspective. Elsevier.

Inayatullah, S. 2009. Causal Layered Analysis: An

integrative and transformative theory and method.
The Millennium Project.

Jones, P. 2014. Systemic design principles for

complex social systems. In G. Metcalf (ed.), Social

40
Systems and Design, Volume 1 of the Translation-
al Systems Science Series, pp 91-128. Springer
Japan.

Meadows, D. 1999. Leverage Points. Places to inter-

vene in a system. The Sustainability Institute.
Sharpe, B., A. Hodgson, G. Leicester, A. Lyon, and I.

Fazey. 2016. Three horizons: a pathways practice

for transformation. Ecology and Society 21(2):47.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-08388-210247

Shibley, J. 2010. Thinking in Circles: A Method for

Drawing Systems Dynamics Maps. EmcArts

Van Ael, K, & Vandenbroeck, P. 2016. Towards a Sys-

temic Design Toolkit. Workshop and Proceedings of
RSD5 Symposium, Toronto.

Vandenbroeck, P. 2014. Working with Wicked Prob-

lems. King Baudouin Foundation, Brussels.

Vandenbroeck, P. 2007. Tackling Obesities: Future

Choices – Building the Obesity System Map. De-
partment of Innovation Universities and Skills (UK).

Vandenbroeck, P. 2007. Tackling Obesities: Future

Choices – Project Report. Department of Innova-
tion Universities and Skills (UK).

41
Notes

42
43
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DESIGN
TOOLKIT

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