Navigating complexity in design education: A holistic pedagogical approach with the design challenge navigator

Contemporary design education faces the challenge of equipping professionals to navigate increasingly complex innovation problems. While design thinking, systems thinking, and agile methodologies are each established in education, they are seldom systematically combined to address socio-technical challenges coherently. To address this gap, we present the Design Challenge Navigator (DCN), an educational toolkit designed to help learners critically assess complexity, structure their design processes, and build competencies for sustainable, user-centred interventions. Grounded in a holistic pedagogical approach, the DCN supports future designers in integrating iterative development, stakeholder participation, and systems awareness. To examine its relevance and transferability, we gather insights from coaches and educators who apply the DCN across varied educational environments. By analysing their perspectives, this research contributes to design education, demonstrating how integrated, practice-oriented tools can enhance interdisciplinary learning and prepare future professionals for complex, sustainability-oriented innovation challenges.