Dinesh Korjan, Aravind Rajesh, Tejasvini Gupta, Swathi Sarvisetty, Anushree Kumar, Alvin Sahayanathan, Deetya Bhatya, Tanisha Goel, Kashish Sharma, Anish Katikar, and Arnav Jadhav
Dinesh Korjan, Aravind Rajesh, and Tejasvini Gupta, Swathi Sarvisetty, Anushree Kumar, Alvin Sahayanathan, Deetya Bhatya, Tanisha Goel, Kashish Sharma, Anish Katikar, Arvind Jadhav.
“Picking Wholes” is a pedagogical framework for a systems-based design studio at CEPT University that challenges traditional design by asserting that the perceived problem is often not the one requiring a solution. This paper explores a pedagogical philosophy grounded in addressing messy, interconnected challenges — wicked problems where linear fixes often exacerbate underlying issues.
The studio’s framework consists of three interconnected phases: Sense Making, Form Giving, and Real Making. Central to this approach is first-hand knowing through experiential immersion—Observation, Immersion, and Engagement—which allows students to navigate complex situations rather than be overwhelmed by secondary data. Using a unifying theme of coexistence, students investigate diverse systemic realms such as human-animal relations (stray dogs), digital privacy, social discrimination, and the smart tech adaptation gap.
Students utilise first hand immersion and a simple method of questioning that reveals the causes, the system variables and the critical factors of the problem at hand. Along with systemic tools, including the Iceberg Model, feedback loops, and leverage points, they move beyond surface symptoms towards understanding interdependence and underlying mental models. This methodology is intended to transform the designer from a simple problem-solver into a wise actor capable of anticipating the wider consequences of their actions. By “making peace” with the fact that interventions inevitably create new problems, designers learn to treat their work as a continuous “work in progress”. Ultimately, the paper demonstrates how this pedagogy equips students to practice at a systems level, ensuring interventions are impactful, holistic transformations that respect the complexity of the whole.
Keywords: picking wholes, wicked problems, sense making, form giving, real making, first hand knowing, structure map, leverage points, wise actors, stray dogs, food choices, coexistence