Systemic Design Research on Reflection
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This thesis project investigates how design, combined with Systemic Action Research (SAR), can open municipal work practices for reflection, supporting more sustainable outcomes. Conducted in collaboration with the Innovation Department in Kungsbacka Municipality, the project centres on the development and testing of a Deep Reflection Tool.
The tool draws on systems thinking, relational epistemology, and mindful awareness to challenge dominant norms and support values-driven dialogue.
Using SAR methodology (Burns, 2007), the process engaged civil servants in iterative cycles of reflection and action, where interviews and observations were not merely data-gathering methods but active parts of the transformative process.
A key element is the tool’s metaphorical framing—“rings on water”—symbolising how inner shifts ripple through broader systems. The tool was created through a practice-led process using creative methods such as early prototyping, sense-making visuals and reflective mapping.
Findings suggest that the tool fosters engagement, ownership, and critical reflection, allowing participants to better understand their roles within wider systems. While the journey toward sustainability remains complex, the tool creates space for meaningful dialogue and shared understanding, helping to pave the way for long-term, systemic change in public organisations.
