Abstract for: Lost in Complexity? Navigating Wicked Challenges through Systemic Design

In an era of "wicked" problems, linear solutions often fail to address underlying systemic structures. This workshop introduces Systemic Design, a transdisciplinary practice integrating the analytical rigor of Systems Thinking with the iterative, human-centered nature of Design Thinking. While system dynamicists excel at modeling feedback loops, Systemic Design provides the collaborative toolkit to translate those models into resilient interventions. Participants will engage in hands-on "Giga-mapping" to visualize stakeholder environments and use the "Leverage Lab" to prototype systemic shifts. By bridging quantitative modeling with qualitative experience, attendees will learn to identify high-leverage entry points and stress-test solutions against unintended consequences. This session synthesizes "thinking" and "doing," equipping practitioners to navigate complexity and lead genuine systems change in volatile contexts.