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Design thinking centers humans. Systems thinking centers ecosystems. What centers institutional survival? IRSA's regenerative architecture thinking integrates both with a temporal dimension.
Human-centered approach that emphasizes empathy, ideation, and prototyping to solve problems.
Strengths:
Limitations:
Holistic approach that examines how components interact within larger systems.
Strengths:
Limitations:
IRSA's approach that centers long-horizon institutional survival and regenerative cycles.
Strengths:
Limitations:
| Dimension | Design Thinking | Systems Thinking | Regenerative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centers on | Human needs and experiences | Interconnections and ecosystems | Long-horizon institutional survival |
| Primary question | What do users need? | How do parts connect? | What enables persistence across cycles? |
| Time horizon | Product/project lifecycle | Current system state | Multi-generational |
| Success metric | User satisfaction, adoption | System health, balance | Institutional longevity |
| Origin | IDEO, Stanford d.school | MIT, Santa Fe Institute | IRSA |
IRSA's regenerative architecture thinking doesn't replace design or systems thinking—it adds a temporal dimension:
What do humans need? Design for people.
How do parts connect? Design within systems.
What enables persistence? Design over time.
Integration: Design for people, within systems, over time. Each perspective addresses what the others miss.
Design thinking centers on human needs—using empathy, ideation, and prototyping to create solutions people want. Systems thinking centers on interconnections—examining how parts relate within larger wholes to reveal unintended consequences. Design thinking asks 'what do users need?' Systems thinking asks 'how do parts connect?'
Neither is universally better—they address different questions. Design thinking excels at creating human-centered solutions. Systems thinking excels at understanding complexity. The best approach often integrates both: use design thinking for immediate user needs and systems thinking for broader implications.
IRSA's framework that integrates design and systems perspectives while adding a temporal dimension: how do we build institutions that persist and regenerate across cycles? It centers long-horizon institutional survival rather than immediate user needs (design thinking) or current system state (systems thinking).
Design thinking identifies what humans need. Systems thinking reveals how solutions affect larger systems. Regenerative thinking ensures solutions can persist across generations. Together: design for people, within systems, over time.