About us

Designing together for transitions: systemic, imaginative and invigorating

Today’s major societal challenges, such as climate change, an ageing population and cybercrime, cannot be solved by anyone alone. They call for a different way of looking, collaborating and designing. The Expertisenetwork Systemic Co-design (ESC) is the learning network for Systemic Co-Design. ESC connects researchers, design professionals, educational professionals and public organisations working on these challenges.

Systemic Co-Design
This requires expertise in changing within collectives, in how systems work, and in how to actually shape new ideas. In practice, these areas of expertise often remain separate worlds, each with their own theories and ways of working. Systemic Co-Design is a shared language that connects these different ways of working. Through real-life cases, we learn together as we go. In this way, we develop models, methodologies and working formats that address societal challenges in new ways.

Activities
As an expertise network, we continuously work on further shaping Systemic Co-Design. We do this through clear programme lines: ESCapades, ESCalators, ESCollabs, ESCall, ESCuela and ESConferences. From workshops to network meetings and multi-day conferences, these events are where knowledge is shared and developed. We also carry out practice-based research, develop education, and work on professionalisation. Curious what’s coming up next?

See upcoming activities

Explanation programme lines

ESCalators

ESCalators are learning sessions in the form of a workshop or half-day session, open to the whole network as well as other interested parties. Two professors and one or more practice partners connect their expertise and experience in SCD through cases from practice. In this way, we share and combine Systemic Co-Design knowledge and tools, making them available to a wider audience. ESCalators are meant for learning from each other.

ESCapades

Because an ESCalator can sometimes feel too “open,” the ESCapade was created. This is a small-scale, closed session in which one practice partner presents a case or question to one professor. In an environment of openness, questions are explored, for example where a more systemic approach would have been valuable, or why the co-design approach seemed, or proved, so difficult.

ESConferences

Every year we organise an ESConference, a larger learning network event where knowledge and practical experience from the network is shared.

ESCuela

This is our programme line focused on education and professionalisation. Through concrete trainings and workshops, practice partners, researchers and lecturers learn to work with SCD tools and methodologies, tailored to their own practice, research or education.

ESCall

This is our open call to creative partners, who receive support through a voucher to share their practical knowledge and translate it, for example, into a more broadly applicable approach, tool or working method.

The network
At ESC, professors, researchers, practice partners and students work together on current challenges. Each of them brings their own experience and expertise, and shares this knowledge within projects, knowledge centres and labs. Discover who is involved with ESC.

Our people