Annual International Symposium | Held October 9 to October 17, 2020

Systemic Design for Well-being: From human to humane

RSD9 was a symposium designed for unprecedented times. Ultimately held online during the fall of the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic, Systemic Design for Well-being: From human to humane was a prescient theme. The online gathering created a place for pause and reflection, but also bold ideas and forward-thinking discussion.

The concept of well-being was treated expansively, extending from human to humane, and creating space not only for compassion and empathy but all living beings and cultures, the natural world and surroundings. RSD9 explored the connections between the well-being of our bodies, surroundings, and the planet. The outcome is a collection of over 50 presentations on design outcomes and programs informed by research, real applications, and practices to address problems in the unbounded complexity of social and ecological systems. RSD9 content can be browsed by subtheme or format (speaker, workshop, paper, gigamap, sketchnote).

RSD9 was hosted by the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, India. The RSD symposia have produced a series of publications as proceedings and journal articles beginning with RSD2 in 2013. More information can be found on the Systemic Design Association website.

Birger Sevaldson of the Oslo School of Architecture and Design first introduced the gigamap technique. The gigamap takes an architectural and descriptive approach to complex projects pursued through studio work using research through a design (RTD) process. They support co-design and co-creative work. In addition to gigamaps, the exhibition includes synthesis maps and system design complexity maps. The synthesis map is used at OCAD U to translate multiple knowledge perspectives about social systems and illustrate the dilemmas and challenges within a complex system scenario. They serve as a starting point for research and systemic design. System design complexity maps are the outcome of a ten-week systemic design academic project at the National Institute of Design. They use metaphor and a central theme to make complex issues accessible for sharing and participatory work with multiple stakeholders.

Gigamaps were exhibited onsite at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, India

RSD9 proceedings include visual storytelling, also known as sketchnoting. The artists use symbols, colour, and loops to document their understanding of the session taking place. This rich, visual narrative offers additional artifacts for RSD9 sessions.