2.3

Systems Thinking and Problem Solving

Before we take a closer look at different design concepts and frameworks, we’ll introduce an exercise for thinking in systems and problem solving. The purpose is to give an example of how design thinking can open up new ways of understanding and working with the issues at hand.

‘Draw How to Make Toast’ is a fast, simple, and fun design exercise that gets people to think about systems – and is a great warm up to thinking about how to solve problems visually.

In the video below Tom Wujec walks us through the exercise and how you can use it yourself.

You can download the ‘Draw a Toast Systems Thinking Guide’ here. And there’s plenty of other creative systems thinking exercises and tools at the Donella Meadows Project – Academy for Systems Change here.

Further reading, learning and references

Tom Wujec – Draw How to Make Toast https://www.tomwujec.com/draw-toast

Draw How to Make Toast http://www.drawtoast.com/

The Donella Meadows Project – Academy for Systems Change https://donellameadows.org/systems-thinking-resources/

© Daniel Mossberg, CEMUS, Uppsala University and Sonali Phadke, studio Alternatives and Stephanie Foote