Systems Oriented Design
— The designerly way to work with systems
Powered by the Oslo School of Architecture and Design
Systemic design association
A proud affiliate of the Systemic Design Association
Systemic Design Association is the central hub for everybody interested in the richness of approaches when it comes to relating systems thinking and design, and systems-oriented design is one of these approaches. The SDA supports the annual Relating Systems Thinking and Design (RSD) symposium.
ABOUT GIGAMAPPING
Gigamapping is part of the Systems Oriented Design framework
The term gigamapping was introduced in 2009 by Birger Sevaldson in the context of the 2009 SOD design studio at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design. In that studio, the designerly mapping techniques used before, already from 2006 and onward, were developed to a new level of complexity.
SOD Foundations
Design thinking and design practice are potentially very powerful approaches to deal with super complexity
The world is rapidly changing, and the need to stay ahead of changes increases the complexity of the design process. Systems oriented design addresses these problems by developing systems thinking in design practice with concepts, techniques and methods developed by and for designers. Systems oriented design helps designers become better at dealing with complex problems. Complex problems are described as problem fields, networks of problems, wicked problems and problematiques.
SOD BOOK
Designing Complexity: The Methodology and Practice of Systems Oriented Design
by Birger Sevaldson
This book changes the way you think about designing. Instead of simplifying, embrace richness. Instead of controlling, you learn to live with uncertainty. SOD is a living and adaptable methodology. Though it is based on design thinking and design methodology, it is easily adapted and applied by anybody who is working with complex change processes.
— Newsblog
Exhibition – Our Fjord, Our Future?
After seven weeks of immersive work, three international teams from AHO’s Master course in Systems Oriented Design invite you to their final exhibition.At Gressholmen Island (Sep 3rd) after the 4 initial field excursions, where students had to begin visualising all...
PhD thesis: FACILITATING REGENERATION
Facilitating regeneration through methodological pluralism A systemic design journey across mountain communitiesHaley Fitzpatrick 2025Oslo School of Architecture and DesignInstitute of DesignSystems Oriented Design Research GroupAbstractTo address the root causes of...
Student Project Spotlight · Information Integrity
As part of the Introduction to SOD course at AHO in 2025, one team team zoomed in on the curly topic of information integrity in Armenia, where geopolitics, media ownership and digital echo-chambers collide. Here is the overview of their project in their own words:How...
Student Project Spotlight · Critical Minerals mining
As part of the Introduction to SOD course at AHO in 2025, one team team zoomed in on critical minerals mining in Chile, where geopolitics, media ownership and digital echo-chambers collide. Here is the overview of their project in their own words: Critical minerals...
Designing for Governance in Complexity: ISOD 2025 x UNDP GPCG
For the 2025 rendition of the seven week compulsory Introduction to Systems Oriented Design (ISOD), 60 third year design students tackled two pressing global challenges: ensuring fairness in critical minerals mining, and nurturing information integrity in the digital...
Systems Oriented Innovation
How can complex challenges and entanglements in the public sector be solved? The Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO) and BI Norwegian Business School are launching a tailor-made course in systems-oriented innovation.
Master Thesis: Beyond Labels
Beyond Labels: Towards a New Paradigm of Mental Healthcare Systems Master's Thesis, diploma with honours. Eric Michael Molumby Oslo School of Architecture and Design 2024This diploma project explores the future of mental healthcare through a Systems Oriented Design...
New book: Systemic Service Design
The new book, "Systemic Service Design", edited by Mari Suoheimo, Peter Jones, Sheng-Hung Lee and Birger Sevaldson, is out. Systemic Service Design provides a comprehensive overview of how systems theories can be integrated into service design to address...
Sustainable Transportation system
Orchestrating for a sustainable logistics and transport systemTorunn Degenes Master's thesis, Executive Master's in Systems Oriented Design Oslo School of Architecture and Design 2024A fundamental transformation of systems requires changes across many layers, sectors...
Mediation of research
H-SEIF: Human Systems Engineering Innovation Framework Research mediation and popularisation are highly wanted and supported by the Norwegian Research Council and other funding bodies. The research popularised and presented here is a summary of two sequential research...
Rachel Lilley interviewing Jonathan Romm and Andreas Wettre
In this video, Dr Rachel Lilley is interviewing Professor Jonathan Romm and Executive Masters Chair Andreas Wettre. They are talking about the experiences of practising Systems Oriented Design in Teaching and education. The conversation is from November 2024. (Video...
RSD13 Oslo Keynotes
The RSD13 symposium had both an online part and an onsite part at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design. We had some great keynotes spurring the discussion on the main theme: Rivers of conversations.Designing to Connect—A social systemic perspective Keynote,...
Silent Change
Silent Change: Regenerative urbanism at the neighbourhood scale - a living lab approach Franziska GläserExecutive Master of Systems Oriented DesignOslo School of Architecture and Design <fglaeser22@gmail.com>Photo: Tilo Pomsok 2019Municipalities are confronted...
Moss Rock City
MOSS ROCK CITYSTEPS TO A PLURIVERSAL ECOLOGY OF SYSTEMS ORIENTED URBAN DESIGNMaster's Thesis Philip Dixon Sandberg Executive Master's Thesis in Systems Oriented DesignOslo School of Architecture and Design2024ABSTRACT This master thesis delves into the multi-layered,...
RSD13 Oslo Keynotes
RSD13 in Oslo, online, and RSDX was a unique experience lasting over two weeks and presenting hundreds of presentations and over 1000 joining. The onsite event at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design was a unique one-track event with no recording or streaming....
Social Systems Accelerated
Can the evolution of societal systems be accelerated? A concept for a networked place-based facility for collaborative sense-making Francis D’Silva Executive Master's thesis in Systems Oriented Design Oslo School of Architecture and Design 2024 Abstract The term...
Deadline for executive master’s is closed
We have over 40 applicants for 20 seats in the SOD Executive Masters. The deadline has passed. However, if you have a special interest or if you would like to join one or two of the modules only please contact Andreas Wettre: andreas.wettre@aho.no
Continuous learning for Sustainable Change
Continuous Learning for Sustainable Change. DOGA’s Approach to Systemic Designfor Business Innovation Marianne Lind Master's ThesisExecutive Master's in SODOslo School of Architecture and Design2024Participants during the train-the-trainer sessions, conducting...