Systems Intertwined: A Systemic View on the Design Situation

Designers are often facing complex design situations which may be challenging to grasp. In this paper I aim at making visible what designers need to make sense of through a systemic model of the design situation presenting the design situation as a system of three interconnected systems: the systems we design; the systems we design for; and the systems we design within. Using the theories of Dewey, Schön and Vickers, I discuss sensemaking and judgment-making in the context of design, and through the model I highlight how we may change the design situation we continuously strive to make sense of through our designs. The model was developed within the design research project Ulstein Bridge Concept, which addressed the design of a ship's bridge. However, it is of a generic nature and is applicable to any design project taking place in a complex context.