Design Thinking, Systems Thinking, and Bringing Both Together
Design thinking and systems thinking are often treated as opposites – the domain of dreamers and engineers. But in practice, the most resilient, high-performing solutions don’t only require one or the other. They demand both.
This isn’t theoretical. It’s proven. Organizations that balance iterative, human-centered creativity with systemic awareness and logic outperform their peers in innovation, adaptability, and outcomes. Especially in product development, UX, tech platforms, and experiential environments – spaces where design isn’t just decoration, it’s infrastructure.
At Glinda, this dual-mindset approach isn’t just philosophy. It’s how we deliver work that scales, sustains, and sparks real-world change.
Design Thinking: The Spark
Design thinking is a human-centered approach to problem solving that draws from the designer’s toolkit to integrate the needs of people, the possibilities of technology, and the requirements for business success.
It gives us empathy. It centers people. It listens, sketches, prototypes, iterates. It’s the post-it-note-on-the-wall, sketchbook-in-the-bag, “what if we tried this” energy that brings bold ideas to life.
We’ve showcased this in projects like the Takes Heart initiative – where an interactive artwork sparked more than $250K in redirected spending to women-owned businesses. It was a design-forward experience, sure. But it was also deeply personal. Built on stories. Shaped by lived experience. Designed for emotional connection and public engagement.
Systems Thinking: The Engine
Systems thinking is a holistic approach to analysis that focuses on the way a system’s constituent parts interrelate and how systems work over time and within the context of larger systems.
But beautiful ideas can buckle under broken systems. That’s where systems thinking steps in.
It maps the invisible. Connects inputs and outcomes. Identifies the root causes, not just the symptoms. It asks, “What are the ripple effects here?” and “How do we build something that doesn’t collapse under complexity?”
Our work with AdPredictive offers a powerful example. When we redesigned the UX for their AI-powered media platform, we weren’t just creating sleek interfaces. We were rearchitecting the system – integrating AI logic, user workflows, and organizational objectives into a cohesive ecosystem. This meant understanding everything from how sales team might use the system to how C-suite leaders evaluated outcomes. That’s systems thinking in action: design as infrastructure, built to support intelligence and scale.
Holding Both: Design + Systems
When you hold both mindsets – design and systems – you stop solving problems at the surface. You start designing experiences that function as part of a living ecosystem.
This is what we’ve done for enterprise clients like AdPredictive (reimagining product UX and AI integration), for civic partners and for nonprofits like the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (launching strategic rebrands and entrepreneur-centered activations).
In each case, design thinking created the invitation. Systems thinking ensured the infrastructure. Together, they created impact that lasts – measurable, meaningful, and ready to scale.
For non-profits, it means more than a good-looking campaign. It means building trust, increasing participation, and driving revenue in ways that don’t burn out your team.
For enterprise partners, it means connecting with untapped markets (hello, women and underrepresented communities) and creating brand loyalty that’s backed by values and value.
For civic leaders, it means activating communities with clarity – so policy becomes presence, and intention becomes infrastructure.
This isn’t just the sweet spot. It’s the future of meaningful work.
