“Designing is like looking through a magnifying glass, it allows you to observe and to understand."

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— Miguel Milá, Essential: A Design Guide for Life (2025)

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Overview

Meaningful innovation starts with asking the right questions. Research, systems thinking, and evidence provide the foundation for defining and exploring complex challenges before developing hypotheses and imagining meaningful ideas.

 

Reading Material

• ​Haraldsson, 2004 | Introduction to system thinking and causal loop diagrams 

• Lee & De Weck, 2026 | Uncovering latent needs in longevity planning: A case study using mixed-methods and system modeling 

• Mosely et al., 2025 | The role of expertise in design facilitation practice: A systematic review 

• Muratovski, 2024 | Research for Designers: A Guide to Methods and Practice 

• Page et. al., 2021 | PRISMA 2020 explanation and elaboration

• System Thinker, 2011 | Guidelines for drawing causal loop diagrams