<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Alex Makes]]></title><description><![CDATA[I'm Alex - a graphic designer and systems thinking student in the UK. See my portfolio and blog to learn more, and get in touch to collaborate.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co.uk/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 20:03:10 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.alexmakes.co.uk/fr/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[A Systemic Approach to Making Strategy for Improvement of Wellbeing]]></title><description><![CDATA[As part of my study of Systems Thinking in Practice (STiP) on the TB871 module at The Open University (OU), I iterated between theoretical learning and practical use of five systems approaches—System Dynamics (SD), Viable System Model (VSM), Strategic Options Development and Analysis (SODA), Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) and Critical Systems Heuristics (CSH)—to develop my systems practice capability.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co.uk/post/a-systemic-approach-to-making-strategy-for-improvement-of-wellbeing</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ec93f104fc81dfe25bb0d6</guid><category><![CDATA[long read]]></category><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[project updates]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_874b7a2f501f45f1a7e27f1f5e473f6d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Encountering unknowns and knowns - TB871 Block 1 (People)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Getting familiar with the inevitability of unknowns in complex and messy situations within which we practice systemically.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co.uk/post/encountering-unknowns-and-knowns-tb871-block-1-people</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4ff43f2ad0bf9f6fe8aff</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><category><![CDATA[creative]]></category><category><![CDATA[ethics]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 21 May 2025 07:45:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_81d5c9d87cd04580a724637e42e1c2be~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Systems and Strategies - TB871 Block 1 (Tools)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Exploring how systems and strategies are related, and some of the different approaches and perspectives that bring them together.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co.uk/post/systems-and-strategies-tb871-block-1-tools</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4ff9b10427b2b3149302d</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><category><![CDATA[project updates]]></category><category><![CDATA[alex updates]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 21 May 2025 05:58:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_cd8514d69bcf498399b69652110aef1b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Using Artificial Intelligence for my Systems Thinking studies]]></title><description><![CDATA[How I use AI for my postgraduate studies, and why it is so bad at bibliographies.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co.uk/post/using-artificial-intelligence-for-my-systems-thinking-studies</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4ff9df2ad0bf9f6fe8bdf</guid><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><category><![CDATA[technology]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 12 May 2025 11:49:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_95ddbc00a9a04b19ba03d2f249f0bddf~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_746,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Learning Systems for Improvement of Inclusive Practice]]></title><description><![CDATA[I designed a learning system as part of my process of learning systems.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co.uk/post/learning-systems-for-improvement-of-inclusive-practice</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4ff9b10427b2b3149302c</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[ethics]]></category><category><![CDATA[project updates]]></category><category><![CDATA[graphic design]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 10 May 2025 17:38:37 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_b16d6a19d0294bea9f5dc4c32fea7a3a~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Systemic Approaches to Social Learning - TB872 Part 03 Week 15-17]]></title><description><![CDATA[The process of managing change in situations requires learning in order to understand a situation and the interconnected elements that affect it, and continue to make appropriate changes based on the changing situation. Our learning, understanding, and choices of how to act in a situation can be seen as existing always in a social context.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co.uk/post/systemic-approaches-to-social-learning-tb872-part-03-week-15-17</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ebaedb04fc81dfe259819b</guid><category><![CDATA[long read]]></category><category><![CDATA[inspiration]]></category><category><![CDATA[community]]></category><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 09 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_6390fdf11e23493b9f4bb2ebbc61bc46~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Not managing change: My misbehaving brain - TB872 Part 03 Week 15-17]]></title><description><![CDATA[Discussing mental health struggles whilst studying for the TB872 Systems Thinking in Practice module at The Open University, available support, and studying I have managed to get done.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co.uk/post/not-managing-change-my-misbehaving-brain-tb872-part-03-week-15-17</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4ff43f2ad0bf9f6fe8b00</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[alex updates]]></category><category><![CDATA[graphic design]]></category><category><![CDATA[mental health]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><category><![CDATA[project updates]]></category><category><![CDATA[mental health]]></category><category><![CDATA[activism]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 01 Mar 2025 17:28:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_3b787c31eaea4afb8f3a9e49f1c56c02~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Systemic Inquiry towards a Learning System of Interest - TB872 Part 02 Week 13]]></title><description><![CDATA[In Part 2.5.1 (Taking a design turn in your practice) of the TB872 module for Managing Change with Systems Thinking in Practice, we further develop the 'learning contract' that we started working on in Part 1 of the module, amending it to conceptualise our current stage of learning and to demonstrate the 'design turn' we have taken in managing change in a situation of concern.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co.uk/post/systemic-inquiry-towards-a-learning-system-of-interest-tb872-part-02-week-13</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4ff44f2ad0bf9f6fe8b02</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[long read]]></category><category><![CDATA[graphic design]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 01 Feb 2025 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_341546c5c110424fb220bb062c6e42d6~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Framing in Systemic Inquiries with the Juggler - TB872 Part 02 Week 11-12]]></title><description><![CDATA[While reading Systems Practice: How to Act (in situations of uncertainty and complexity in a climate-change world (Ison, 2017) to accompany my study of TB872 Managing Change with Systems Thinking in Practice, I am simultaneously developing my understanding of Systems Thinking concepts as described in the provided literature, and developing my Systems practice capability by learning how to apply Systems Thinking in practice (STiP).]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co.uk/post/framing-in-systemic-inquiries-with-the-juggler-tb872-part-02-week-11-12</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4ff44f2ad0bf9f6fe8b01</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[long read]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jan 2025 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_75a6530a202940bab46b85a2c4c0db59~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Systems Practice: Being, Engaging, Contextualising, Managing - TB872 Part 2 Week 10]]></title><description><![CDATA[Exploring the BECM heuristic and the Juggler isophor for understanding my past and present practice with Systems Thinking.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co.uk/post/systems-practice-being-engaging-contextualising-managing-tb872-part-2-week-10</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4fec933362686b5d57e23</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 10 Jan 2025 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_9210e8a25aa34b0da8834ddc2ab77ff4~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_550,h_839,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Relational Dynamics, Values and Worldview Clashes - Exploring Systems Practice - TB872 Part 2 Week 8-9]]></title><description><![CDATA[...The transition from ‘being’ systemic to ‘doing’ Systems encompasses all the ‘balls’ juggled by an aware systems practitioner—Being, Engaging, Contextualising, Managing.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co.uk/post/relational-dynamics-values-and-worldview-clashes-exploring-systems-practice-tb872-part-2-week-8</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4fec933362686b5d57e22</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[alex updates]]></category><category><![CDATA[project updates]]></category><category><![CDATA[long read]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 04 Jan 2025 15:56:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_8f0ae0e58067411d838c530f05bb0915~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Setting up a systemic inquiry for a situation of concern - TB872 Part 02 Week 07]]></title><description><![CDATA[Planning my systemic inquiries for developing my Systems Thinking in Practice (STiP) capabilities and the process of managing change in a situation of concern.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co.uk/post/setting-up-a-systemic-inquiry-for-a-situation-of-concern-tb872-part-02-week-07</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4fec833362686b5d57e1f</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[planning]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 20 Dec 2024 19:57:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_08b39ab15c744ab0819313b4e4ef973e~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stories and Systemic Inquiries - TB872 Part 02 Week 06]]></title><description><![CDATA[Looking for situations in which I could see myself taking purposeful action to manage change using STiP...]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co.uk/post/stories-and-systemic-inquiries-tb872-part-02-week-06</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4fec833362686b5d57e1b</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[alex updates]]></category><category><![CDATA[mental health]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 13 Dec 2024 16:09:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_afe174514e9e41619db3a30070dcb6b5~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_548,h_297,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Exploring Social Learning Systems - TB872 Part 01 Week 04]]></title><description><![CDATA[Thinking about how to manage change in systems with multiple stakeholders...]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co.uk/post/exploring-social-learning-systems-tb872-part-01-week-04</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4fec933362686b5d57e21</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 29 Nov 2024 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_755388d6957342899e3b662dce0391af~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thinking about Systems for Inclusivity - TB872 Part 01 Week 03]]></title><description><![CDATA[In week 3 of TB872 Managing Change with Systems Thinking in Practice, we examine our own systemic sensibility, literacy and capability. We are encouraged to appreciate relational as well as linear cause-and-effect thinking, so that we can become stronger at using both systemic and systematic thinking whenever it is appropriate.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co.uk/post/thinking-about-systems-for-inclusivity-tb872-part-01-week-03</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4fec833362686b5d57e1c</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[ethics]]></category><category><![CDATA[activism]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 22 Nov 2024 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_a25c6228e4084ada8f25082d7c0a20d7~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_975,h_500,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[TB872 Part 01 Week 02 Review]]></title><description><![CDATA[In week two of module TB872 Managing Change with Systems Thinking in Practice, we continue to look at our own experiences with managing change, practice identifying features of systems and effective systemic change, and look further into how we can utilise reflexive practice to engage with situations of concern.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co.uk/post/tb872-part-01-week-02-review</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4fec833362686b5d57e1e</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 15 Nov 2024 15:03:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_7ba4bfc4953c497ba8b9088cfc08b6b2~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Analysing Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows — Book Summary and Review]]></title><description><![CDATA[This was the first book I read on the topic of systems thinking, and it served as a great introduction to the basics of systems analysis from the viewpoint of a renowned and respected system dynamics practitioner.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co.uk/post/analysing-thinking-in-systems-by-donella-meadows-book-summary-amp-review</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4fec933362686b5d57e20</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><category><![CDATA[long read]]></category><category><![CDATA[review]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_52eae37f3fbf49d38358a974492816c7~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_600,h_600,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Managing Change with Systems Thinking in Practice - TB872 Part 01 Week 01]]></title><description><![CDATA[My first week of study with the TB872 Managing Change with STiP module involved quite a lot of self-reflection as we considered our roles in systems practice.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co.uk/post/managing-change-with-systems-thinking-in-practice-tb872-part-01-week-01</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4fec833362686b5d57e1d</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 10 Nov 2024 18:36:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_b7639be5a1444d449233eef20b2e5c01~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Introduction to Systems Thinking in Practice]]></title><description><![CDATA[I will aim to keep a record of what I learn from tutorials, books I read, online research, interesting concepts, practical experiences related to Systems Thinking, and changes in how I think and exist in the world.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co.uk/post/introduction-to-systems-thinking-in-practice</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4fec833362686b5d57e1a</guid><category><![CDATA[alex updates]]></category><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 07 Oct 2024 14:50:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_687991ac20ae4e4eba102ad70422592f~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_500,h_500,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Future Plans and a Christmas Clearout ❄ Why this sustainable stationery shop is closing down]]></title><description><![CDATA[Find out why Novel Notes is planning to close down the website and how you can continue to follow and shop with Novel.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co.uk/post/future-plans-christmas-clearout-sustainable-stationery-shop-closing-down</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6571c9a772117f3f5334b2bc</guid><category><![CDATA[website]]></category><category><![CDATA[shop]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 07 Dec 2023 14:18:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_b26bdc733dac4d218821f8095b5050c5~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>