Joanna Boehnert
The systemic design community (Sevaldson & Jones 2019) is well placed to respond to the immediate need to bridge scientific knowledge to everyday living practices and technologies in response to Net Zero imperatives. Methods such as systems mapping can be used to facilitate trans-disciplinary and sector collaborations to envision, develop, inspire, and enact energy transitions. This activity will ask participants to map systemic design practices that can facilitate Net Zero transitions. One focus might be systemic mapping.
Participatory mapping processes can connect diverse stakeholders across sectors while highlighting points of tension and potential interventions in progress toward the Net Zero goals. System maps can be accessible as public resources to link learning across communities, cities, regions, and countries working toward the Net Zero. An energy system visualised on one map can inform energy infrastructure and social practices in other places. System mapping can create a space to address wicked problems not yet identified that could jeopardise Net Zero goals. Mapping can create space to consider how politics influence innovation in the field of energy systems transitions (Boehnert 2018, Boehnert and Mair 2021).
The aim of this activity will be to identify best practices and potential leverage points in systemic design for Net Zero.
Keywords: systemic design methods, system mapping, net zero, energy descent, design for sustainability
Activity description
This activity session briefly discusses and maps systemic design practices along with any potential leverage points supporting Net Zero energy transitions. First, I introduce the activity. We then take three minutes to collect our thoughts with an initial sketch. This is followed by small group discussions (or discussions with a partner). The short activity ends with a feedback session where participants are also encouraged to upload any insights to a Miro board online.
5-minutes – Introduction
3-minutes – Initial solitary sketching exercise
15-minutes – Table discussions – discussions with a partner
7-minutes – Quick feedback to the group. A link to an online Miro board is shared so participants can upload key ideas and contributions.
