Expertisenetw0rk Systemisch Co-design - Expertisenetwerk Systemisch Co-Design

The Expertisenetwork Systemic Co-design (ESC) connects four metropolitan universities of applied sciences, six design research groups, and 38 societal and design partners. As a leader in systemic and design-oriented work, ESC has a direct and indirect impact at the intersection of practice-oriented design research, design professionalization, societal transitions, and education.

Events

About us

Through its activities, ESC contributes to the Knowledge and Innovation Agenda Societal Earning Capacity, in which SCD approaches serve as innovative routes through key methodologies (KEMs) to a resilient, inclusive society.

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Projects

The work of ESC comes to life in the ESCollabs: practice-oriented research projects where designers, researchers, and societal partners collaborate on system change. In domains such as energy, food, industry, and social inclusion, we explore how design-based research can contribute to real transitions. Discover the projects and the knowledge that emerges from them.

Projects

Hoe kunnen we de stad sociaal en veilig maken?
Hoe kunnen we de samenleving duurzaam maken?
Hoe kunnen we voelbaar maken wat de gevolgen zijn van klimaatverandering?

4Universities of Applied Science

6Research groups

38Professional partners

6Projects

Activities

With the innovative Systemic Co-Design (SCD) methodological approach, we tackle challenges in a relational and transdisciplinary manner. Knowledge is shared and developed through our clear program lines such as ESCapades, ESCalators, ESCollabs, ESCall, ESCuela, and ESConferences.

Activities

TRAINING

ESCuela training Ethnographic Fieldwork ‘Charting Invisible Borders’

Deepen your ethnographic practice and become equipped to challenge, map, and strategically shift the boundaries of complex systems for real-world transformation.

TRAINING

ESCuela training Social Design Impact Method

On January 14, 2026, ESC will organize a practical training course on the Social Design Impact Method. This training is intended for (creative) professionals who want to determine what they want to influence with their project in order to have a long-term impact in complex social contexts.

ESConference

ESConference ESCape towards Impact

From 11–13 February 2026, we invite all transition makers to celebrate four years of ESC and mark the beginning of the next phase of the Expertisenetwork Systemic Co-design.

Kennis

ESC utilises, combines and connects research knowledge with the practical experiences of education and design professionals and the people and organisations with whom they work. Together, we translate this knowledge of Systemic Co-Design into applicable knowledge products that strengthen capacity for action. Discover the knowledge within our network.

Knowledge

Network

We bundle and enrich the knowledge and experience from various research groups and form a rich network of learning communities, knowledge centres and labs. Stakeholders from practice, research and education actively participate.

More about our network