Chiara Battistoni
Systemic Design uses the system mapping method to define the system to analyse and to design its change, called gigamaps. Considering socio-technical systems, it is a process performed to tackle the complexity, to understand problems or new opportunities, and finally design a new or better solution. Usually, it is used to study and visualise large systems as a transportation system, a production system, a social system, a healthcare system,…. and rarely, it is used to support the design of a new product in a product design studio. After an analysis of current system mapping methods, this paper presents two case studies performed in educational contexts – a product design and a planning studio – with the final objective to design systemic, sustainable circular product design. Finally, this contribution presents a methodological approach for designing sustainable and circular products that integrates steps, tools and viewpoints from multiple disciplines. The approach begins with a comprehensive initial design phase centred on system observation, which not only includes the analysis of an existing product but also examines the various actors involved and their relationships, analysing the system’s metabolism through material and energy flows, and exploring interactions across the different scales affected by the project. This analytical phase enables the construction of a holistic understanding of the current context, helping to identify leverage points for transitioning from a linear model to a Circular Economy one, where waste is eliminated and local specificities are leveraged. A key component of this process is the use of visualisations and graphical tools, which facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, support the interpretation of current system dynamics and impacts, and assist in designing future scenarios that illustrate the desired transformations. In conclusion, the paper proposes a definition and a methodology to construct this particular typology of gigamaps, the ecosystem product maps.
Keywords: systemic design, system mapping, holistic diagnosis, ecosystem mapping, education, ecodesign