IDEO U 127d ago

Ready to build your Systems Thinking skills? Explore IDEO U courses → https://www.ideou.com/products/human-centered-systems-thinking?utm_medium=organic_video&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=youtube-systems_thinking_explained-2026-02&_ga=2.0 In this video, we explore how Systems Thinking becomes more powerful when paired with a human-centered approach. Through examples like traffic congestion and food waste, we break down how looking at connections, motivations, and behaviors leads to more effective, lasting solutions. You’ll learn three practical mindsets to apply Human-Centered Systems Thinking in your work, community, or organization. Key Takeaways 1. Shift between zooming in and out to understand both detailed pain points and the broader system patterns shaping them over time. 2. Deliberately shift perspectives—using tools like analogous inspiration—to uncover new solution spaces and reframe the problem. 3. Examine your own assumptions and biases to design solutions that align with real human behaviors, needs, and constraints. Timestamps: 00:03 Why simple fixes create new problems 00:17 What is systems thinking? 00:36 Blending systems & human-centered design 00:46 Traffic congestion example 01:15 Systems thinking with a human lens 01:28 Mindset 1: Zoom in and out 02:01 Tool: Systems mapping 02:15 Food waste systems example 02:58 Mindset 2: Shift perspective 03:18 Tool: Analogous inspiration 03:49 Reframing food waste 04:13 Mindset 3: Be aware of your lens 04:33 Tool: Reflective questioning 05:23 Designing for real behavior 05:32 Bringing the three mindsets together 05:47 Seeing challenges in a connected way Helpful Links Beginner’s Guide to Systems Thinking: https://www.ideou.com/blogs/inspiration/beginners-guide-systems-thinking-core-mindsets?utm_medium=organic_video&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=youtube-systems_thinking_explained-2026-02&_ga=2.0 12 Systems Thinking Resources We Love: https://www.ideou.com/blogs/inspiration/systems-thinking-resources-books-articles-videos-to-get-started?utm_medium=organic_video&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=youtube-systems_thinking_explained-2026-02&_ga=2.0 IDEO U Course: https://www.ideou.com/products/human-centered-systems-thinking?utm_medium=organic_video&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=youtube-systems_thinking_explained-2026-02&_ga=2.0 Follow IDEO U on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ideo-u/ IDEO U’s Creative Confidence Podcast Series: https://www.ideou.com/pages/creative-confidence-podcast If you're enrolled in one of our classes or courses, or have general questions or feedback please email us at hello@ideou.com #SystemsThinking #HumanCenteredDesign #HumanCenteredSystemsThinking #DesignThinking #Innovation #ComplexProblems