Abstract
Teaching and learning systems-thinking can often be abstract and, for new students, difficult to grasp. In our first-year Bachelor of Arts design theory seminar our goal was to connect systems theory to practice and thus allow for systems to become more tangible and visible. We asked ourselves: How might systems thinking become more concrete through doing, researching, reflecting, and discussing, therefore leading to a deeper understanding? In this text we present and discuss 'breakfast as a system', an evolving step-by-step and enquiry-based approach to learning. It involves background research, giga-mapping, and how researching and presenting information can lead to more embodied learning and a deeper understanding of systems thinking and complexity, while also becoming aware of pluralism. Moreover, researching and mapping in small groups allow students to acquire a more concrete understanding of the hidden complexity behind everyday products and modern conveniences, including globalisation, infrastructure, and labour conditions.
Keywords
systems thinking, design cybernetics, gigamapping, visualisation, sustainability, future skills
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.1220
Citation
Hohl, M. (2026) Introducing systems thinking in design education: Exploring systems through breakfast, in Simeone, L., Gray, C. M., Verhoeven, A., de Götzen, A., Bakırlıoğlu, Y., Zohar, H., Stead, M., and Buwert, P. (eds.), DRS2026: Edinburgh, 8–12 June, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.1220
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Included in
Introducing systems thinking in design education: Exploring systems through breakfast
Teaching and learning systems-thinking can often be abstract and, for new students, difficult to grasp. In our first-year Bachelor of Arts design theory seminar our goal was to connect systems theory to practice and thus allow for systems to become more tangible and visible. We asked ourselves: How might systems thinking become more concrete through doing, researching, reflecting, and discussing, therefore leading to a deeper understanding? In this text we present and discuss 'breakfast as a system', an evolving step-by-step and enquiry-based approach to learning. It involves background research, giga-mapping, and how researching and presenting information can lead to more embodied learning and a deeper understanding of systems thinking and complexity, while also becoming aware of pluralism. Moreover, researching and mapping in small groups allow students to acquire a more concrete understanding of the hidden complexity behind everyday products and modern conveniences, including globalisation, infrastructure, and labour conditions.