Abstract
Systemic design is increasingly emerging as a foundational concept in contemporary design research, attracting growing scholarly attention. However, despite converging ambitions toward addressing complexity, the field remains characterized by diverse terminologies, conceptual framings, and methodological vocabularies. This plurality, while intellectually productive, often raises the entry barrier for new researchers and risks duplication of effort due to unclear conceptual boundaries and fragmented knowledge development. To address this challenge, this study traces the historical evolution and theoretical roots of systemic design, clarifying its conceptual scope, key constructs, and stages of theoretical formation. Building on this foundation, it further examines the historical trajectory of Chinese systemic thinking and design traditions, and contrasts them with Western systemic design paradigms. The study argues that Chinese systemic thought, embedded in everyday life, ethical practice, and socio-cultural philosophy, constitutes a long-standing system paradigm that holds significant value for enriching and diversifying contemporary systemic design discourse.
Keywords
Systemic design; Systematic design; System thinking; Unity of Heaven and Humanity
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.682
Citation
Song, Y., and Zhang, L. (2026) Plural epistemologies in systemic design: Bridging eastern wisdom and western traditions, 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.2026.682
Creative Commons License
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Included in
Plural epistemologies in systemic design: Bridging eastern wisdom and western traditions
Systemic design is increasingly emerging as a foundational concept in contemporary design research, attracting growing scholarly attention. However, despite converging ambitions toward addressing complexity, the field remains characterized by diverse terminologies, conceptual framings, and methodological vocabularies. This plurality, while intellectually productive, often raises the entry barrier for new researchers and risks duplication of effort due to unclear conceptual boundaries and fragmented knowledge development. To address this challenge, this study traces the historical evolution and theoretical roots of systemic design, clarifying its conceptual scope, key constructs, and stages of theoretical formation. Building on this foundation, it further examines the historical trajectory of Chinese systemic thinking and design traditions, and contrasts them with Western systemic design paradigms. The study argues that Chinese systemic thought, embedded in everyday life, ethical practice, and socio-cultural philosophy, constitutes a long-standing system paradigm that holds significant value for enriching and diversifying contemporary systemic design discourse.