In 2019, Dutch farmers organized the largest protest in the history of the Netherlands in response to the government’s plan to reduce nitrogen emissions by 70% by 2030. Ammonia emissions from agriculture, particularly livestock manure, were identified as a major source of nitrogen pollution. To meet this goal, the Netherlands would need to cut its livestock population by 50%, posing a serious threat to farmers’ livelihoods. Meanwhile, in 2021, research in the Sanjiangyuan region of China revealed that manure plays a crucial role in the survival of local Tibetan communities. Why, then, does manure serve such different roles in these two systems? In one, it is seen as a pollutant, while in the other, it is considered a valuable resource. Is manure truly the problem?
As global challenges continue to mount, the relevance of Victor Papanek’s work Design for the Real World has become increasingly evident. Although design as a discipline has made significant progress on “problems solving”, the case of manure raises deeper questions: Do designers fully understand the problems they aim to solve? How can design truly understand “real world”? More importantly, what strategies should design adopt when faced with wicked problems like these?
This study redefines the concept of “system” within systemic design through the framework of Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) theory, emphasizing the real-world contexts that design engages with. Unlike traditional complexity science, which often relies on abstract modeling, this research takes a localized, embodied approach. Fieldwork was conducted in the Tibetan pastoral region of Sanjiangyuan, China, and a biodynamic farm in the Netherlands, engaging with these two manure-related social-ecological systems (both examples of CAS) to understand their unique behaviors. The researcher is embedded within the system, allowing herself to become part of the system.
Throughout the study, video documentation was used to capture the systems in action, aiming to create a dynamic portrayal—what the research terms “systemgraphy.” The process of editing these raw videos became a key step in building systemgraphy, enabling designers to gain a deeper understanding of the real world. Additionally, in response to the systems's needs, the researcher interacted with the system by designing objects, enhancing learning through this engagement.
This study shows that manure itself is not the problem; rather, it is the behavior of the systems that leads to pollution. The research examines these systemic behaviors across three levels: the system as a whole, its components, and its users. It suggests that design interventions should focus on facilitating or guiding the system’s self-learning processes to better address challenges and risks. In conclusion, the study stresses that localization is crucial for addressing wicked problems and highlights the importance of exploring and understanding the real world through this approach.
is a designer and researcher specializing in sustainability and systemic design. Chen is pursuing her PhD at CAFA and is a visiting research fellow at PhDArts from January 2024 until January 2025.
She holds a master’s degree from the Royal Academy of Art, the Hague (KABK) and a bachelor’s degree from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, China (CAFA). Her work blends design, ecology, and social engagement, exploring how design can create a more resilient future. She is a co-founder of Superuse China, a consultancy dedicated to systemic design projects, and she teaches Flows Study at KABK as well as at CAFA.
Junyuan Chen has led several projects that highlight her expertise in sustainable design and research. She directed the preservation strategy design for the Beihai Wetland in Yunnan, and the development of the PulsApp circular resource management platform for Zhaoqing High-tech Industrial Park, which earned national green park recognition in 2019. She also contributed to Oxfam Hong Kong’s research on how traditional knowledge in Southwest China addresses climate change. These projects underscore her commitment to creating sustainable and impactful design solutions across diverse contexts.