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Systems weaving
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School of Arts, Design and Architecture |
Master's thesis
Electronic archive copy is available via Aalto Thesis Database.
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en
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187
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Abstract
As designers increasingly engage with complex societal issues, fresh perspectives are needed to translate systemic thinking into pragmatic activation. This thesis investigates how the emergent field of sustainable business model innovation (SBMI) can inform designer roles in collaborative systems change.
To explicate the core collaborative facets of SBMI, this research takes a grounded theory approach combining embedded action research within a circular startup, semi-structured interviews and literature integration. The primary component of the study is an in-depth action research study of SBMI processes within Flip the City, a circular star- tup. As founder and therefore participant, I documented and analyzed a 6-month process of collaborating with five business partners and a design facilitator to co-create a shared value proposition and supply chain.
This mix of methodologies study provides an in-depth perspective into the social dynamics and stakeholder interactions underlying SBMI in practice. The iterative, collaborative nature of SBMI mirrors design, yet occurs directly embedded in the complexities of implementation.
Findings reveal the importance of three core activites: (1) creating participatory spaces for co-exploring value perspectives, (2) proactively structuring diverse stakeholder engagement, and (3) utilizing adaptable visual tools to maintain coherence amidst complexity. By bridging SBMI and design, this research attempts to illuminate designer contributions in translating systems concepts into grounded, collaborative implementation. Rather than conceptualizing detached representations, designers are called to become embedded partners in stewarding designed systems activation. The practical dimensions uncovered provide preliminary steps to evolve design approaches for twenty-first century systemic challenges.