Systemic perspective on contemporary biodesign

Abstract Biodesign is increasingly recognised as a promising life-centred design field, yet its implementation within Industrial Design Engineering Technology remains limited. This study investigates the research question: “What systemic structures hinder advancement of biodesign?” . Drawing on extensive interviews with 21 pioneering biodesign experts (n=21) and qualitatively analysed through a systems-oriented perspective, the findings reveal that barriers are not isolated practical issues but rooted in deeper systemic structures across several system depths – from competencies to agency, design briefs, tools, and processes. Four constraining systemic structures were identified: limits to growth (accessibility), eroding goals (expectations of biodesign projects), growth and underinvestment (invest in biodesign competencies), and tragedy of the commons (knowledge restrictions in biodesign). Together, these indicate that biodesign’s limited advancement stems from systemic misalignment rather than technological immaturity. The study advocates coordinated systemic interventions at deeper system depths to enable cumulative, long-term advancement of the biodesign field.