Practising Systemic Design: Insights from the Delft Systemic Design Lab

Written by H. Goss, G. Brinkman, S Celik, J.I.J.C. de Koning, J.C. Diehl, T. Komlóssy, E.B. Mazerant, P.L.J. Merkus, A. Özçelik, Deger Ozkaramanli, A.L. Peeters, R.A. Price, F. Sleeswijk Visser, E. Tschavgova, Thomas van Arkel, S.S. van Dam, A. van Essen, M.M. Weber, E.M. Wennekers, S.A. Westerhof.

This paper presents the systemic design approach of the Delft Systemic Design Lab (D-SDL) at TU Delft's Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering through four interrelated practises that inform its research, education, and design activities: 1) framing complexity, 2) meaningful formgiving, 3) building relations, and 4) nurturing reflexivity. Rather than offering prescriptive methodologies, these practises constitute evolving orientations for engaging with systemic complexity, developed through iterative reflection and grounded in the experience of D-SDL researchers. We demonstrate how these practises unfold in design work through the analysis of two master’s thesis projects that address complex societal challenges—one focused on financial crime prevention, the other on public health intervention. Each project is examined through the lens of the four practises, showing how they shape design processes and outcomes in context. Through this analysis and reflection, we identify specific research questions to deepen the understanding of each practise and their dynamic interactions. Additionally, we highlight cross-cutting themes, particularly around positionality and methodology, that signal areas for further theoretical and methodological development. Together, these insights form a research agenda for the D-SDL and contribute to the broader scholarly discourse on the evolution of systemic design methodologies and their epistemological foundations.

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