Program Overview

Every part of human civilization is designed. To the point where we have become dependent on our designs for our very existence and now the future of the global human community literally depends on how we design solutions that can bring us out of the sustainability crisis. Will we collectively create enough adequate solutioins in time?…

For too long we have been stuck in a narrow approach to innovation focused on “optimizing” the experience of individual rather than commutes or eco-systems. And too often “optimizing” does not mean improving health or satisfying fundamental human needs, but rather creating desires and facilitating addictions. It is high time we move from this human-centered design to a more inclusive, healthy and systemic life-oriented approach to design that is based in science of how social systems of ecosystems thrive and regenerate over time.

Sustainability is about building the adaptive capacity of society in ways that strengthens the resilience and expands the creative potential of our communities and our organizations. This is important for us so that we together can develop the solutions that enable civilization to thrive on this planet, for generations to come. On an operational level, this comes down to respecting specific scientific sustainability principles when planning, designing, producing, evaluating, using, and ending the life of products, services, policies or structures of organizations or society at large.

To work with these principles completely demands of you to first understand “un-sustainability” to then become an expert on creating sustainability. As it turns out there are only 8 ways for any system to be unsustainable. To find out what these 8 principles are and how to work with them effectively as design criteria, join our short online course where you will take part in three interactive workshops and engage with resources and peers via our e-learning platform.

You will be equipped with the most relevant frameworks and models from the field of sustainability science as well as new and innovative design methodologies. This will enable you to design and innovate practices, services, products, and systems that promote sustainability. You will have the chance to meet and work together with passionate and aspiring sustainability practitioners. Furthermore, you will be applying key frameworks to your own personal praxis and your own organizational reality.

Content

 

WORKSHOP 1 – The Systems View of Life & Understanding The Basics of Sustainability Science:

Purpose is to understand the fundamental principles of sustainability challenge and how to apply them to designs (products, services & experiences) in a systemic way that enables regeneration.

During a four-hour online session, we will provide you with various frameworks that can help you understand and apply the science of sustainability. In group dialogues, you will then proceed to practice using these frameworks to analyse your cases through these lenses. The goal is to become familiar with the overall language around sustainability and open the perspectives for potential applications of the selected frameworks in your work life. Finally, you will be tasked with an assignment for the upcoming Action Learning Period – it will be around one particular framework that you must apply to a case of your choosing that is real and related to your work (or life).

ACTION LEARNING & PREP PERIOD A – Testing The Key Framework from W1 in Praxis & Preparing for Workshop 2:

During the intermediate weeks leading up to Workshop 2, you will commit to the assignment of applying the key frameworks from Workshop 1 in your (work) life and take note of its effects and the challenges and possibilities you discover during your attempts to integrate these frameworks in your personal praxis and/or organizational work. The goal is that you become familiar with the appropriate use of the frameworks and identify some of
the improvement potentials that are associated with the successful integration of these frameworks in your praxis and in the operations of your organization and/or innovation projects. It is also a goal that the frameworks may serve as a reflective prism through which you can see your own professional practice and your organization in new lights.
Via our e-learning platform you will also be provided access to relevant learning material for this period and recorded lectures, that will support and enhance your learning. The lectures are required preparation. Readings are optional. Expect a time commitment of 2-10 hours in between workshops depending on your level of engagement with the assignments and the optional learning resources.

 

WORKSHOP 2 – Learning from our Praxis & a Deeper Dive into Various D4S Approaches & Examples:

During a four hour online session, we will share our experiences and help each other extract and formulate essential insights that we can take away for future improvements to our personal praxis and organizational work.

We will start by exploring what we learned from testing the framework in our work during Action Learning Period A. We will then proceed to unfold the broad field of Design for Sustainability (D4S) as we dive deeper into the various tactics and approaches associated with this discipline. The goal is to both broaden and deepen your understanding of the connections between design thinking sustainability, science, and sustainable development. Throughout you will be introduced to relevant frameworks – particularly one central framework will be highlighted from start to finish as a scaffold (or organizing toolbox) that can help connect the various compatible approaches, theories and tools in a methodological process.

Finally, you will be tasked with an assignment for the upcoming Action Learning Period – it will be based on the framework that you have worked with in the workshop (in groups) which you must now individually apply to a relevant case.

ACTION LEARNING & PREP PERIOD B – Testing The Central D4S Frameworks (from W2) & Design Criteria in Praxis:

During the intermediate weeks leading up to Workshop 3, you will commit to the assignment of applying (layering) the two compatible key frameworks from Workshop 1 and 2 conjunctively in your working life and take note of its effects and the challenges and possibilities you discover during your attempts to integrate these frameworks in your personal praxis and/or organizational work. The goal is that you become familiar with the appropriate use of the frameworks and identify some of the improvement potentials that are associated with the successful integration of these frameworks in your praxis and in the operations of your organizations. It is also a goal that the frameworks may serve as a reflective prism through which you can see your own practice and your organization in new lights.

Via our e-learning platform you will also be provided access to relevant readings for this period and recorded lectures, that will support and enhance your learning. The lectures are required preparation. Readings are optional.

 

WORKSHOP 3 – Learning From Our Praxis & Opening to Long Term Thinking & The Strategic Perspective
on Sustainable Development as Futures Design:

During a four hour online session, we will share our experiences and help each other extract and formulate essential insights that we can take away for future improvements to our personal praxis and organizational work.

We will start by exploring what we learned from testing the frameworks in our work during Action Learning Period B. We will then proceed to open up to long term thinking and the strategic perspective on sustainable development as futures design and how we can work with sustainable visions methodologically in strategic planning and roadmapping towards sustainable scenarios. In groups you will work with a strategic thinking framework fit for achieving a sustainable future. This broad scope framing will help os gain perspective on D4S as solutions for sustainable development and help us practice our ability to rigorously plan for long term success while expanding our circles of concern and cultivating our capacity for care across time and place domains.

Finally, you will be tasked with an assignment for the upcoming Action Learning Period – it will be based on the framework that you have worked with in the workshop (in groups) which you must now individually apply to a relevant case.

ACTION LEARNING & PREP PERIOD C – Testing The Central D4S Frameworks (from W3) & Design Criteria in Praxis:

During the intermediate weeks leading up to Workshop 3, you will commit to the assignment of applying (layering) the three compatible key frameworks from Workshop 1, 2 and 3 conjunctively in your working life and take note of its effects and the challenges and possibilities you discover during your attempts to integrate these frameworks in your personal praxis and/or organizational work. The goal is that you become familiar with the appropriate use of the frameworks and identify some of the improvement potentials that are associated with the successful integration of these frameworks in your praxis and in the operations of your organizations. It is also a goal that the frameworks may serve as a reflective prism through which you can see your own practice and your organization in new lights.

Via our e-learning platform you will also be provided access to relevant readings for this period and recorded lectures, that will support and enhance your learning. The lectures are required preparation. Readings are optional.

WORKSHOP 4 – Learning From Our Praxis & Focusing on Scaling Positive Impact through Systemic Change & Change Agency:

During a four hour online session, we will share our experiences and help each other extract and formulate essential insights that we can take away for future improvements to our personal praxis and organizational work.

We will then proceed to dive deeper into systemic thinking, systems theory and systems innovation to ultimately grasp systemic design as a metadesign discipline that can offer an empowering position from which to intentionally operate from to positively affect the convergence of crises in our time. We will investigate how systems level change and regenerative processes takes place through understanding circular economy, ecosystems cycles and your change agency. This will simultaneously serve as a framework for re-designing system paths for greater sustainability impact and enabling navigation in complexity and non-linear processes of evolution and regeneration.

The goal is to achieve a coherent understanding of design for sustainability and its connection to the “meta-crisis” that we find ourselves in, of which COVID-19, migration and the current energy and ressource crisis in EU are but the most recent symptoms of weak and risky systemic designs at a global scale. This should set you up to scale your impact and deepen your work on your journey as a creative and intentional sustainability change agent.

 

Is This For Me?

Join this course, if you are aspiring to design better solutions and be a sustainability champion through your work. Whether you are a leader, service or product designer, project manager, organizational development consultant or responsible for driving sustainable development this course will help you level up both your design skills and sustainability literacy for the 21st century.

This course will expand your conception of design and so it is also relevant for professionals who do not immediately consider themselves designers, but who somehow take part in constructing or improving elements of the future – such as individuals involved in change, innovation, planning, engineering, learning processes or decision making.

This course will also expand your conception of what sustainability is and how design and sustainability can be reconciled and so it is also relevant for professionals who do not currently identify as a sustainability practitioner in their job title, but whom aspire to intentionally incorporate sustainability competencies in their work or become a sustainability champion or simply contribute to more sustainability through their work (by design).

It is not a prerequisite that you are familiar with Design Thinking, product design and sustainability or have a design praxis, but it will make it easier for you to adopt and integrate the new theory and methods. It will also be a benefit to you if you are inclined to lateral and/or systemic thinking since design for sustainability ultimately is a systemic innovation praxis. If you are not familiar with systems theory, you will be introduced to it on the course.

Learning Outcomes

• Explore various frameworks for understanding the link between design thinking, systems theory, science, and socio-ecological sustainability – specifically you will become familiar with the evidence-based Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development, known from The Natural Step.

• Reflect in groups around perspectives on the present moment in history in relation to sustainability in general – you will have the chance to meet and work with passionate, likeminded people.

• Apply socio-ecological sustainability frameworks to your personal practice/case – you will have the chance to methodically recalibrate your perception of and thinking around the systems, processes, and products you engage with.

• Extract learning and insights that are crucial to strengthen our designs and systems for the future – you will contribute to the cocreation of context specific as well as general learning through an action-learning approach.

Approach

Learning happens in non-linear ways. The course is structured according to spiral learning where we return to foundational core concepts while expanding the contextual scope and deepening the understanding. The course also admits to rhizomatic learning, where it is recognized that all the connection between concepts, ideas, tools and methods are not necessarily immediately evident, but there to be discovered and made and that that process (when facilitated properly) happens organically. Even beyond the timespan of the course and beyond the domain of what is conscious.

Andragogy is different than pedagogy. The unique KAOSPILOT learning methodology and approach is built around a rigorous training platform that dynamically combines theory, practice, and reflection into a blended learning journey engaging head, hands and heart. You will be applying tools and theory, which you will be learning through layered media, practical peer-to-peer exercises, group reflections, individual study as well a application in your work context. Our approach enables you to acquire different mindsets for you to apply in your work, including experimentation, exploration, rigorous crafting and taking initiative. This supports your autonomy as a learner and enables you to internalize and operationalize evidence-based theories and proven methods through experience and adaptation to your context. That way the abstract becomes useful and that is how methods become helpful and praxis becomes impactful.

Time is precious and making an impact is urgent. The general intention with the course har been to make it as universally relevant as possible while simultaneously making it as effective (in terms of impact) and efficient (in terms of time investment) as possible. We want to make it possible for everyone who wants to be part of the solution to the sustainability challenge to level up their sustainability competence fast. The operating premise here centered around the question; Will there be enough competent sustainability change agents in time? – The question to you is; will you be one of them?…

Testimonials

Sustainability is not a frequent topic in digital strategy, marketing, and digital transformation – areas I work with daily. I joined the course with the belief that there’s a lot to be done in my industry. Before driving any change, I needed to have a holistic and comprehensive view of sustainability, beyond carbon emissions and circularity. The course broadened my idea of what the real challenges of the economic systems are, which allowed me to identify grey zones I can influence in my daily job. The content of the course is very relevant to the current issues and offers practical methods of working towards them in a more sustainable and regenerative fashion. However, not being familiar with design thinking and system thinking methods, the learning process was also often challenging and stimulating. The biggest surprise and motivation from the course was the beautiful network of like-minded and concerned changemakers from various backgrounds, who really cared about challenging the status quo. It’s the conversations and assignments we shared, that have built my confidence and enthusiasm towards my role in being a designer and sustainability advocate.

Pawel R. – Brand Marketing Expert & Digital Specialist – Poland

 

I have had the great pleasure of participating in the course “Design for Sustainability” – a training  program that really gave me a better and deeper understanding for the responsibility that we as designers have when it comes to the issue of the sustainability challenge. As was stated during the course “the sustainability crisis is not merely a technical problem – it is in fact primarily a design flaw and a design challenge!”. I can only recommend the course – especially if you are looking to get a ton of useful frameworks and learn about the underlying science, theories and much more – during just 9 hours of effective online education. Thank you for the learning journey!

Victor T. – Process Leader on Building Projects – Denmark

 

Mikkel dug well and deep in the sustainability field. His analytical and conceptual thinking is astonishing. He built and shared so many useful conceptual frameworks that contain the golden rocks of the design for sustainability field and show the path ahead for the ones that dare to walk forward and leave a good sustainable impact far beyond SDG´s. He is passionate about the topic and he grounds his passion in good research, knowledge and continuous learning.

Mikkel works relentlessly and his energy and drive are highly contagious. I do believe that he made all the effort to show the way forward. Now is the time for people in organizations to step up, take the lead and move ahead. The good news is to find out that you are not alone on that path; Mikkel and the rest of the fellows you meet in the program are walking along too.  

Arantxa L., Executive Coach & Strategic Advisor, Spain

FAQ Video

FAQ answered in this video:

Q1: Who is this course for?
Q3: Do I have to be a designer to participate?
Q4: Do I have to know sustainability science to participate?
Q5: Will this training offer me something concrete I can use in my work (as a an innovator, product or service designer)?
Q6: Will this training offer me something strategic that I can use as a leader or business developer?
Q7: Why is it online?
Q8: How does online learning work?
Q9: What is the commitment and is there flexibility?
Q10: Are there scholarships available?

Frequently asked questions

What is Design for Sustainability?

Design for Sustainability is an emerging cross-disciplinary field of theory and praxis comprised of a set of innovation approached all seeking to impact sustainable development positively by and through intentional redirection of product, service, system or product-service-system design.

What is the Design for Sustainability course by KAOSPILOT?

It is an effective open online course for all professionals (and students) offered by KAOSPILOT where participants learn how ton use sustainability science and its principles to innovate and design appropriate, healthy and durable solutions to real needs in the world.

It is also an intense learning journey of expanding thinking to become more holistic and aligning thinking with how nature works.

What is Design Thinking for Sustainability about?

Design Thinking for Sustainability is about understanding and combining the needs of users with the needs of the planet in an intentional and smart way in order to foster sustainability-oriented innovation and development of products and solutions.

Do I need to be familiar with Design Thinking to learn how to Design for Sustainability?

You do not need experience with Design Thinking to learn how to Design for Sustainability, but it will make it easier for you understand and integrate the theories and methods.

How is this different than Ecodesign?

Ecodesign is part of the emerging and growing field of Design for Sustainability. While an Ecodesign approach often simply leads to incrementally optimizing existing designs to become less enrironmentally bad (in greenwash teerms “eco-friendly) – Design for Sustainability seeks to combine Ecodesign (if and when appropriate) along with other approaches through systemic and scientific thinking in order to innovate new solutions to real needs that have as great of a positive socio-environmental impact as possible.