Strategic Design
Strategic design starts with correctly diagnosing whether a problem is tame or wicked before choosing a method, since applying the wrong approach guarantees failure. Combined with thoughtful distribution, it can produce real social, environmental and economic impact, as seen in cases like LifeStraw and Solar Sister.
The book defines strategic design through diagnosis: 'Recognizing which journey you are on before you take the first step is the essence of strategic design,' contrasting the 'known Blueprint' (tame, optimization) with a 'dynamic system' (wicked, discovery). It grounds this in the Borneo malaria/DDT cascading-failure case, concluding that 'the most critical, high-leverage skill for any strategic designer is the ability to accurately diagnose the nature of the problem at hand,' since 'Applying a "tame" methodology to a "wicked" problem is a fundamental category error that guarantees failure.' Elsewhere, discussing LifeStraw and Solar Sister, the book notes that 'strategic design and thoughtful distribution (Proceedings) of products can generate measurable, immediate, and positive impacts across social, environmental, and economic spheres.'
Related in Community
Entries this one is tied to through the book.
Examples
- Borneo Malaria Eradication Program (WHO DDT Spraying, 1950s) · both placed under The Primacy of Diagnosis
- Al Gramo · discussed together in section 160
- An Inconvenient Truth (Al Gore) · discussed together in section 160
- "Wicked Problems in Design Thinking" (Richard Buchanan, 1992) · discussed together in section 030
- Fairphone · discussed together in section 160
- LifeStraw · discussed together in section 160
- Silent Spring (Rachel Carson) · discussed together in section 160
- Solar Sister · discussed together in section 160
- The Story of Stuff (Annie Leonard) · discussed together in section 160
Books and references
- The Story of Stuff · discussed together in section 160
Methods
- Circular Economy · discussed together in section 160
- Closed-Loop · discussed together in section 160
- Design for Disassembly · discussed together in section 160
In the Framework
- Tame Problems · problem type
- Wicked Problems · problem type
- Outcomes Component
- Products · element
In the book
- Chapter 4, section 030 · From Tame Blueprints to Wicked systems
- Chapter 4, section 031 · The Primacy of Diagnosis
- Chapter 16, section 160 · Environment Dimension
Mentioned in
Methods