How Do Wicked Problems Affect Design Thinking?

This essay will first define wicked problems, explore how scientists and designers
approach them differently, provide some examples to illustrate what wicked problems are and
how people seek to solve them and finally consider who good solutions can be best achieved.

The terminology of wicked problems is defined as problems that are difficult or

impossible to solve because of incomplete, contradictory, and changing requirements that are
often challenging to recognize. Every problem is related to something else, they are deeply
intertwined and there are many unexploited consequences. There is no right or wrong way to
solve these problems, but the attempt may expose or create new issues (Briggs). It is useful to
first unravel some aspects, for example that poverty is related to education, nutrition with
poverty, economics with nutritions and so on. Horst Rittel was the first person to depict the
term wicked problem in the 1960s. Together with Melvin Webber he defined wicked in
relation to malignant, vicious (circle), tricky or aggressive (Rittel and Webber.
1984,136) before they formulated ten points to describe the theme:
1. Wicked problems have no exact formulation.
2. There is no stopping rule in wicked problems.
3. Solutions are not true-or-false, rather good-or-bad.
4. Wicked problems have no immediate or ultimate test of a solution.
5. Every attempt to a solution counts significantly, there is no opportunity to learn by
trial-and-error.
6. Wicked problems do not have a set of potential solutions, nor is there a well-described set
of proper procedures that may be incorporated into the plan.
7. Every wicked problem is unique.
8. Every wicked problem can be considered to be a symptom of another problem.
9. There are numerous ways wicked problems can be explained. It is the choice of
explanation that determines the nature of the problems resolution.
10. The planner has no right to be wrong (Rittel and Webber. 1973,161-166).
To illustrate how they differentiate problems with a solutions and wicked problems they
explain that scientists will know when they have done an equation, for example, whether it is
right or wrong, or that a chess player will know his moves in advance to win the game. As for
wicked problems, there are no clear features (Rittel and Webber. 1984,136).
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Richard Buchanan (1992) supports Rittel and Webber in how differently scientists
and designers approach problems in their field of work, using their statements to enhance his
research. Scientific professions will only work towards one correct answer, whilst designers
are more exploratory and use different methods to unravel problems. Designers will work
with a development where there are numerous ways to reach the final result. Further on
Buchanan states that a greater problem is that scientists and designers have difficulties with
communication since their way of thinking is in opposition. The problems the designers refer
to is not within the frameworks scientists are accustomed to working with. Scientists can
participate in innovative design, but will also show the research within a scientific field.
Buchanan states that one cannot solve the problem, but find an improvement and that one will
not know the outcome until solutions have been implemented with a demonstrated response
(ibid, 96).
On the other hand argue Farrell and Hooker (2013) wicked problems most certainly
appear in science as well as design, and gives examples using Rittel and Webbers ten criteria
for defining wicked problems. They explain that scientists and designers use the same
cognitive process, but that scientists use mere logic and data to generate more true theories to
prove thesis. Farrell and Hooker (ibid,692) explain further on that Rittel and Webbers third
point, solutions are not true-or-false, rather good-or-bad, occur in science when an
established method, supporting the problem is made. Another example is where point ten
states that the

planner has no right to be wrong where Farrell and Hooker (ibid,699)

describe that a defect research programme may misuse assets, resulting in misleading
scientists to believe in the data and conclusions. The negative side of this aspect is that the
whole speciality will regard it as a poor research project and put pressure on future scientists,
on the other hand only current knowledge and accomplishments can be blamed. Farrell and
Hooker (ibid,700) concludes that the cognitive process in both fields are respectively
different in the matter where science is cognitive, whilst design is conative in character.

To understand how complex wicked problems can be, here are some examples: In
third world countries there are several different aspects that connects wicked problems.
Impoverished people might not have enough capital to receive an education which will
enable them to find well paid employment. If there is a lack of finance, it will be difficult to
feed their family, as a result children could become malnourished, and the vicious circle will
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continue. This is an example of how complex a wicked problem can be, one cannot possibly
hope to solve all problems immediately, and it is necessary to start from one point of view.
One possible start could be to supervise the people without education so that they could work
and start earning money.
Another example is littering which is an increasing problem in the community and for
the world in general. Several materials take hundreds of years to decompose and they are not
beneficial to the ecosystem. There are several factors that come into play regarding litter that
make it a wicked problem. Littering is part of a wider problem such as climate crisis and
consumerism. People who do not recycle and deposit their waste in the natural environment
contribute to the production of more waste and also prevent the reuse of material. Rubbish
that is thrown into the ocean takes much longer to decompose and is a great danger for sea
life, for example: Plastic material and fishing nets trap and neutralize a variety of species.
The food industry and politicians are responsible for the overuse of packaging, which makes
the food last longer and makes it more presentable. This is linked to consumerism in the
sense that if more products are bought, demand and production will be greater. Littering
requires people to change their behavior in order to minimalise the issue. One measure that
has been taken recently is edible six pack rings from Seawater Brewery made of barley and
wheat from beer production, compared to the six pack rings made from plastic that tend to
harm sea creatures. In addition to re-useing the grains, it is nutritious food for animals and
dissolves easily (Seawater Brewery). This is an example of how one can start to unravel the
problem of littering but also how one solution can benefit several aspects. This is not a
definitive answer on how to solve the problem, nor is it right or wrong, which makes it a
wicked problem by Rittels principles.
In a recent research study which was carried out by a group of students in Norway,
dealt with food waste as a wicked problem. Every fifth bag of groceries is tossed which
results in 300 000 tonnes of food waste each year. There are several reasons for why people
are throwing away massive amounts of food; firstly products that are marked with an expiring
date will get tossed, impulse buys will lead to unused groceries in the refrigerator. Lastly,
students and small families might not be able to consume large packings with food before the
expiring date, which are making them a big contributor to food waste. Ideas were
brainstormed and each one considered, several ideas were selected and main prototypes were
created and tested for usability. The most suitable idea was a prototype for an app which
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helped people share their excess food and this should prove to be a successful way of dealing
with a wicked problem.

This essay has tried to explain what defines wicked problems, how Rittel and
Webber are explaining it, and how they are different to solvable problems. Farrell and
Hooker argues against Buchanan, Rittel and Webber and states that science also has complex
problems where there may not be a clear result and will help future scientists in unraveling
solutions. Finally there were some examples that described situations that are considered as
wicked and how they are connected to other aspects of a problem and some examples that
could be a starting point to unravel these wicked problems. Creativity and innovative ideas
alongside discussions and experimentation is crucial in order to find the right solutions and
best answer to these problems. Good solutions can come from trial and error and
experimenting with different ideas. As previously explained there is no right or wrong way to
approach a wicked problem, but the best solutions are the ones that are arrived at when
people share ideas, experiment, and access technology that is available.

Bibliography
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FARRELL, R. and C. HOOKER, 2013. Design, science and wicked problems. Design Studies,
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HARALDSEN, I., 2011. 25 prosent rett i spla [viewed 19.12.16 Available from:
http://forskning.no/mat-landbruk-forbruk-hus-og-hjem/2011/09/25-prosent-rett-i-sopla
RICHARD BUCHANAN, 1992. Wicked Problems in Design Thinking. Chicago, Ill: MIT Press
RITTEL, H. and M. WEBBER, 1973. Dilemmas in a General Theory of Planning.
RITTEL, H. and M. WEBBER, 1984. Developments in Design Methodology. John Wiley & Sons
SALTWATER BREWERY, 2016. Edible Six Pack Rings
[viewed 13.10.16 Available from: http://www.saltwaterbrewery.com/community/