This course will introduce you to systemic design methods for increased understanding of systems thinking as a basis for designing services and products.
Information meeting
Admission recommendation
A bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent degree or equivalent work experience, with an interest or experience in change on a systemic level, services, products, organizational development or sustainable processes.
Registration
Registration deadline: 17 February 2025.
Registration is binding. Any cancellation must be made in writing and no later than 28 February 2025.
You will receive admission information by 21 February 2025.
Content
Systemic design shifts perspectives on how businesses and society address challenges. By fostering holistic thinking and collaborative solutions, it equips professionals to navigate the growing complexity of today’s world. This course emphasizes the importance of addressing problems through interconnected and interdisciplinary strategies, making it invaluable for anyone ready to lead change.
In this course, you will get an opportunity to engage with systemic design in practice. Through a program of six sessions, participants will learn about systemic design’s principles and practices. The course combines remote lectures and workshops with one elective in-person period in Berlin. You may bring in real-life cases to the course.
The course is a collaboration between Oslo Metropolitan University, and partner institutions Berlin - University of Applied Sciences (HTW) in Germany and L'École de Design Nantes Atlantique (EDNA) in France.
Knowledge
The participant will attain knowledge within:
- systems theory
- communication theory
- system dynamics and analysis
- methods for data gathering in complex settings
- intervention in systems
Skills
The participant will be capable of:
- describing and identifying complex contexts and relations by visualization
- creating systems-maps
- performing system analyses
- utilizing methods for data gathering, with emphasis workshops and design probes
General competence
The participant attains competence in systemic design by:
developing the ability to understand and handle complexity and systems thinking and sustainability in an international collaborative context
Target groups
The Practice Oriented Systemic Design course is designed for individuals aiming to deepen their understanding of systems thinking to enhance the design of services and products. Ideal candidates include professionals and graduates with a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in fields such as design, organizational development, sustainability, and leadership.
This course is particularly beneficial for those involved in systemic change, service and product design, organizational development, or sustainable processes.
Participants will gain knowledge in systems theory, communication theory, system dynamics, and methods for data gathering in complex settings. They will also develop skills in visualizing complex contexts, creating system maps, performing system analyses, and design probes. The course emphasizes handling complexity, systems thinking, and sustainability in an international collaborative context.
Potential job roles that might benefit from this course:
Relevant roles include service designers, product designers, UX/UI designers, and design researchers who are actively involved in shaping user-centric solutions. Systems analysts, innovation managers, business analysts, and strategic planners may also find the course beneficial for enhancing their ability to handle systemic challenges.
Professionals such as sustainability consultants, organizational development specialists, policy analysts, and urban planners, who deal with large-scale systems and policy implementation, can greatly benefit from the systemic design focus. Social innovation practitioners, project managers in technology or design, human-centered design practitioners, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) managers represent other key target groups who will gain valuable insights into sustainability and systems thinking.
Additionally, the course is well-suited for environmental planners, change management consultants, digital transformation specialists, and healthcare service designers, all of whom navigate complex and dynamic systems. Education designers, engineers focused on sustainable development, data visualization specialists, and community development officers can use the course to enhance their ability to work on impactful projects. Civic designers, working on public sector innovation, round out the list of professionals who may find this course an excellent fit for advancing their expertise in practice-oriented systemic design.
Sessions
Sessions, mandatory:
- 20 March kick off (digital) at 09:00-11:00
- 26 and 27 March in Berlin (digital possible)
- 23 April (digital)
- 7 May (digital)
- 20 May closure (local physical national hubs)
You will be awarded a certificate after passing the course. You need to have a 80% attendance, and submit a reflection note at the end of the course to receive the certificate.
Costs
The course is part of an Erasmus+ cooperation project and is free of charge, however, the travel and accommodation costs in Berlin is on own costs.
Academic coordinator
Questions about this course?
You can contact us by e-mail if you have questions about this course.
