Systems-oriented service design in urban planning contexts

Abstract

Abstract

Services are critical to contemporary cities and play a crucial role in maintaining the smooth functioning of our daily lives. However, the design of services and the network of services in urban environments are complex. The design of services in urban environments is made challenging by at least three factors: (1) the complexity and interconnectedness of the various aspects of urban environments, which can be identified as systems; (2) a plethora of stakeholders involved in their design, and (3) the current global crises that design decisions must react to or at the least take into consideration. This tentative conceptual chapter suggests that urban environments comprise socio-material, service, and built environments. Furthermore, urban environments are systems that consist of subsystems. These notions should be considered to tackle the wicked problems of urban environments. This chapter suggests that systems-oriented service design should be explored as a perspective to address wicked problems in this context. Systems-oriented service design is presented as an analytical and creative perspective for design. Gigamapping is highlighted as a critical tool in systems-oriented design and design representation or a boundary object, facilitating comprehensive understanding and stakeholder collaboration. This chapter concludes with a call for a broader conversation on service planning and systems-oriented disciplines in designing urban services.