Systemic Design for a sustainable local economic development: Lea-Artibai case study

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The Systemic Design approach provides a methodology to define complex territorial network of companies with reduced environmental impact. This method defines a way of analysis to understand and map the complexity of current issues addressing them at different levels, in order to design appropriate and long lasting solutions mainly based on the increase of relations between the involved actors. The creation of a network of connections permits to obtain several positive outcomes that involve both the territory and the society that lives in it and it also makes the system more resilient. An holistic diagnosis is the starting point for the identification of different areas to develop a systemic project. This methodology was applied to Lea-Artibai, a department of the Basque Country. Its economy is historically based on forestry and fishing that are currently facing a long-lasting crisis and it is difficult to intervene in these sectors for the complexity of the regulatory system. The holistic diagnosis highlighted other territorial potentialities of the area, mainly the agri-food sector (with traditional products and dishes) and the deeply rooted culture of cooperation. As a kick-off for the creation of the net between the different actors of the department was chosen the creation of a 'Systemic Buying Group (SBG)'. It enables to start the cooperation between the partners for the success of the pilot project: a large cooperative with its employees as potential clients, a cooperative of local producers and transformers, a little shop working as the bridge of communication between them. At their side operate AZARO fundazioa (a private non –profit centre for entrepreneurship and innovation that promotes the creation of new businesses and the competitive improvement of the business network) as the coordinator of the project and the Systemic Design Group of Politecnico di Torino in the role of project leader. The project underlines the role of design as a deeply interdisciplinary field of work that is able to talk and cooperate with different disciplines to reach a collective goal: the environmental, social and economic sustainability. The SBG becomes the driver of change for the enhancement of the territory and the implementation of systemic design in the area, for an economy based on the quality instead of the quantity. A concrete action that acts on a small scale permits to manage the transition from the design of intangible to tangible.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4995/IFDP.2016.3309