Micro Crops & The Iterative Wave

Abstract: The current approach to facilitation has numerous benefits but lacks sufficient challenge in raising awareness about wicked problems. This paper discusses the authors’ master thesis project, conducted in collaboration with the organizational context of a plastic-free store in the Gothenburg area. Focusing on the wicked problem of microplastics and its impact on us and the environment, we propose a practice that can assist designers in addressing complex issues. By combining a systematic view with methods such as embedding, research, materialization, co-design, and facilitation, we arrived at a hypothesis for a new practice called The Iterative Wave. This method, presented as a template, offers insights and instructions for other designers to utilize in similar contexts. The paper also includes discussions on the project’s sustainability, ethics, and ideas for future continuation. The project encompasses two dimensions: the socio-political environmental dimension and the embedded design dimension, as further explored below.