Research question
How systems thinking can change the way sidewalks are designed and what
they produce?

About
People in Oslo travel to work daily, and in different parts of the way, they
walk. Nowadays, sidewalks are designed in respect to the existing motorized
transportation infrastructure. However, the way they are built, their values,
aesthetics and functions affect life of citizens. This project aims to
emphasize the way context around sidewalks is formed. The study involves
citizens in the data collection process to capture their perceptions on a
micro scale. On the other end, the macro scale, the factors beyond their
perspective are mapped and analyzed. The role of the systems-oriented
design as a discipline is to identify correlations of these two rapidly different
worlds.

As a result, interventions addressing different leverage points of the
pedestrian infrastructure were formed. Possible implementation can serve
as a starting point for the development of walkability program for Oslo.
Furthermore, the research outlines important considerations for urban
planning and development. This involves municipalities of city districts,
and agencies, which directly or indirectly work with public spaces. Project
scope also elaborates on how systems thinking can be applied in urban
projects and invites for more collaborations between municipalities and
design students.

Why?
It affects all of us. Systems thinking encourages product designers to look
out of the scale of products, but rather in the contexts of our existence. This
project is done in belief, that an approach to shape and form public space
should be challenged. Cities shall be designed in human scale, become
resilient, and answer to the needs of citizens. With a help of systems
thinking, the goal is to reinvent the design process of sidewalks and what
they produce.

Methods:
Adaptations of systems- oriented design methods and tools (Intervention
strategy, Relational maps, Value proposition, System map, Leverage points,
Iceberg model, ZIP analysis), Processor Service, Survey

Materials & media:
Phone camera, Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop/InDesign, Miro, large paper
canvas, posted notes, markers