METHODOLOGY
A few months ago, I walked away from a comfortable job (yes, in this economy) because my instincts said something wasn’t right. I took the summer to read, listen, and make sense of why life feels like a rolling crisis for my generation. One idea from Dan Hill’s Trojan Horses & Dark Matter stuck: everything we’re experiencing is a design choice—and what’s designed can be redesigned. So I turned my attention to where the next wave is already gathering: AI. Governments and investors are pouring staggering sums into data centers and models, with little clarity on second-order effects. If that capital needs returns, it will push AI into society—fast. My question became simple: what design interventions are needed now to shape what we already sense is coming?
THE PROCESS
This project uses systems thinking and futures practice to move from sense-making to prototype interventions. Systems work isn’t usually done in a silo, so I built a light, time-boxed MVP process (six weeks) that trades breadth for speed. Since systems design is participatory and I’m working without a formal team, I experimented with “AI Workshops” bringing in simulated expert personas to pressure-test assumptions and add missing viewpoints. It’s imperfect, but useful for widening the conversation within tight constraints.
1.Framing the system
To control the project scope, we define the system we are tackling
2.Mapping the system
To understand the system and what is causing the problem.
3.Defining the vision
To set a guiding vision of what are we working towards and whats the ideal state of being
4.Designing Interventions
Imagining the potential intervention we can design
5.Storytelling
Document the findings, capture people’s attention
THE SYSTEMS MAP
ACKNOLEDGEMENTS
Saba Sinha, for kickstarting the systems map.
ChatGPT for research and AI Workshops.
Midjourney for images.
Joao Da Silva Malta, Tuong Nguygen, Sidney Debaque, Maurits Montañez, Stanley Nyoni, Carina Johed, Ola Möller, Jonas Boutani Werner and Rasmus Bengtsson for the valuable feedback.
