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Summary
In a world where change is constant and complexity is the norm, learning is the engine that drives great design. In this session, Jen explores how designers can move beyond just solving problems to enabling adaptation at multiple scales: individuals, teams, and organizations. Jen shares principles from complexity science and real-world practice to help you design the conditions for curiosity, reflection, and meaningful change – for your collaborators and customers alike. Walk away with a fresh lens on your role as a designer - that is, a mediator of collective learning. Take Aways: A mental model for approaching design in complex systems or volatile domains, shifting from control to curiosity, from solutions to sense making An understanding of the parallels in learning at individual, team, and organizational levels, and why that matters for your design practice Practical principles for creating the conditions where adaptive learning can thrive in your team, product, or organization Inspiration to reframe your role as a designer: not just solving problems, but enabling systems to learn, grow, and evolve
Key Insights
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Learning is a dynamic process rather than a linear one.
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Best practices may not work in complex systems due to their unpredictable nature.
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Coherence in systems is more beneficial than rigid alignment.
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Learning should be seen as an emergent pattern across different scales.
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Organizations need to create conditions that allow for learning to occur organically.
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Adaptability and responsiveness are keys to navigating complexity.
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Individual and collective learning processes mirror each other within organizations.
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Cognitive dissonance can trigger valuable learning moments.
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Emergent practices replace traditional best practices in complex environments.
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The importance of context cannot be overstated in designing learning experiences.
Notable Quotes
"Learning is the foundational design pattern of complex systems."
"We can't drive the kind of learning we're most interested in like a project plan."
"We're not machines; engineering doesn't apply the same way."
"Learning is emergent, relational, and contextual."
"Complex systems require emergent practices as opposed to best practices."
"Nudging or wiggling the system can lead to favorable outcomes."
"Learning emerges from interaction rather than from a detached perspective."
"Cognitive dissonance signals opportunities for transformation."
"Best practices fail in complex domains because they ignore context."
"Learning is how we stay agile in our increasingly unpredictable world."
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