Snowmelt is proud to host the Pacific Edition of RSD14 (Relating Systems Thinking & Design Symposium), taking place from October 3 to 11, 2025.

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Hosted by the Systemic Design Association and OCAD University, the RSD symposium brings together a global community of practitioners, researchers, and thought leaders to explore how systemic design can navigate the interconnectedness of our world. Over the past few years, we’ve deepened our involvement in RSD, recognising it as a vital platform for developing and refining systemic design approaches. This year’s theme, Relationality in Complexity, resonates deeply with our commitment to understanding and shaping the relational dynamics of change.

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For the first time, we're bridging the Pacific Ocean with sessions scheduled in time zones friendly to areas from the eastern Americas, through to Australia and Southeast Asia.

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RSDX Community (ac)chords festival: Online workshops + talks:

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October 4th (Oct 3rd PDT / EDT)
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• Every High-Energy System Needs a Crucible – Harold Nelson‍
• (7:00 AM - 8:00 AM AEST – 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM PDT – 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM EDT)
  Examining how transformative systems require crucibles to contain, shape, and channel energy for lasting change. Learn more
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• Advancing the Adoption of Systemic Design in Changemaking Organisations: Applying and critiquing the SHIFT framework – Lewis Muirhead, Ryan Murphy & Louise Gallagher
  (8:00 AM - 9:30 AM AEST – 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM PDT – 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM EDT)
  Sharing insights on using the SHIFT framework to embed systemic design in organisations and critiques its practical application. Learn more

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October 5th (Oct 4th PDT / EDT)
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• Cultivating Systems Leadership: Two years in – Seanna Davidson & Dana Shen
  (9:00 AM - 11:00 AM AEDT – 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM PDT – 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EDT)
  Reflecting on lessons from a multi-year journey building systems leadership capacity in practice. Learn more

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October 6th (Oct 5th PDT / EDT)
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• Universal Patterns, Practical Questions: Grounding systems thinking and design in systems science – Lynn Rasmussen
  (8:00 AM - 9:00 AM AEDT – 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM PDT – 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM EDT)
  Exploring contrapractice as a radical design response to systemic crises and unsustainable futures. Learn more
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• A Conversation on Contrapractice – Dulmini Perera & Tony Fry
  (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM AEDT – 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM PDT – 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM EDT)
  Exploring contrapractice as a radical design response to systemic crises and unsustainable futures. Learn more

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October 7th (Oct 6th PDT / EDT)
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• Configuring Incompossible Futures – Claudia Westermann, Chris Speed, Elisa Giaccardi & Mike Phillips
  (8:00 AM - 9:00 AM AEDT – 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM PDT –  5:00 PM - 6:00 PM EDT)
  Considering how design can engage with futures that are incompatible yet must coexist. Learn more
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• Lessons From the Field: Exploring effective systemic design practices with organisations – Leanne Sobel, Tim Tompson, Emma Blomkamp
  (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM AEDT – 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM PDT – 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM EDT)
  A workshop exploring practical experiences and challenges of applying systemic design across diverse organisational contexts. Learn more

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RSD14 online paper talks: 90+ papers presented by authors

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October 9th (Oct 8th PDT / EDT)
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• Relational Leadership: Session 5 – Leanne Sobel, Tim Tompson, Chloé Oru, Emma Blomkamp, Amanda Martin, Louise King & Laura Fairbrother
  (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM AEDT – 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM PDT – 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM EDT)Strengthening institutions through relational practices, collaborative capabilities, and maturity in relational leadership.
  Learn more

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October 10th (Oct 9th PDT / EDT)
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• Tracing sLab’s journey, and reinvigoration for the systemic design community – Greg Van Alstyne, David Ing, Zaid Khan & Samah Kamalmaz
  (9:30 AM - 10:30 AM AEDT – 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM PDT – 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM EDT)
  Evolution of sLab, and reflections on pacing systemic change and when restraint is the most effective design response. Learn more
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• Transdisciplinarity, Systems Theories: Session 5 – David Ing, Zaid Khan & Samah Kamalmaz
  (10:30 AM - 11:30 AM AEDT – 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM PDT – 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM EDT)
  Slowing down in systems work through diverse frameworks, and learning when stepping back rather than intervening yields more sustainable change. Learn more
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• Health Experience Design: Session 4 – Mami Yoda, Tomohide Mizuuchi, Tania Ivanka & Shi Hui Saradevi Ng
  (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM AEDT – 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM PDT – 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM EDT)
  Reimagining care through cultural traditions, co-designed services, and community-based mental health systems. Learn more

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Join the Pacific Edition

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All sessions are online and accessible across our region.

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Full programme and write-up: RSD14 Pacific Edition Programme →

Conference access via Zoom: Join the event here →

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Join a session to connect with the systemic design community across the Pacific, share your perspective, and explore how design can help us respond to complexity with care and creativity.

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