Name: Beyond the interface - systems thinking for designers
Start: 2025-11-12T18:15:00Z
End: 2025-11-12T20:15:00Z
Location: Slice

As design continues to impact products, services, and solutions at scale, it is more important than ever to understand the systems and context that surround design decisions.

Systems thinking is an approach that helps designers consider systems as a whole, the relationships within them, and investigate the cause & effect that leads to specific outcomes.

**Guest author**
We are delighted to welcome Sheryl Cababa to UX Belfast. Sheryl is author of our featured book, 'Closing the Loop: Systems Thinking for Designers'. Closing the Loop provides designers with the tools and frameworks to adopt a powerful systems thinking approach.

In her work with consultancies such as Substantial, frog, and Adaptive Path, Sheryl has worked with a diverse base of clients including the Gates Foundation, Microsoft, IHME, and IKEA. She holds a B.A. in journalism and political science from Syracuse University.

Sheryl is an international speaker, workshop facilitator, and Chief Strategy Officer at [Optimistic Design](https://optimistic.design). When she’s not in the office, she can be found at the University of Washington helping educate the next generation of Human-Centered Design and Engineering students. You might also find her biking around Seattle, or talking about her most recent complicated baking project.

*Sheryl will join us via video call from Seattle, WA.*

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**Guest speaker**
Jared Fossey is a designer who sees design as a way of thinking, not just making. He has shaped customer experiences for global organisations including Vodafone and Swedbank, leading work that connects research, strategy, and design to create meaningful impact. Guided by the belief that everything can be designed, Jared is currently working with Rapid7 to help envision the company’s future cybersecurity platform.

You can find Jared on LinkedIn at: [https://linkedin.com/in/jaredfossey](https://linkedin.com/in/jaredfossey)
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**Charity**
As is customary, we make a nominal donation to charities chosen by our guests. Details to follow.

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**Food & drink**
We'll have pizza and refreshments available from 6.30pm, courtesy of our hosts, [Slice](https://slice.com)!

**If attending, please refer to our [code of conduct](https://www.meetup.com/uxbelfast/).**

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Rick Monro

UX Belfast

Technology

Software Product Management

New Product Development: Software & Tech

Web Design

Information Architecture

Product Design

Interaction Design

Web Technology

User Experience

Product Development

User Research

UX Design

UI Design

Agile and Scrum

Beyond the interface - systems thinking for designers

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Beyond the interface - systems thinking for designers

UX Belfast

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