Principles into Practice: methods for systemic design

Learn to put principles into practice through a range of creative and participatory methods.

📅 Dates: 10 July 2025 - 30 October 2025.
⌛ Format & Duration: Weekly content with fortnightly live sessions.
💻 Delivery Mode: Online
📈 Co-Design Maturity Model Level: Understand/Apply

📜 About this training

Are you passionate about systems change and eager to put creative and participatory principles into practice? Through a combination of online training and coaching, you can expand your co-design toolkit and skillset to address complex problems and facilitate inclusive collaboration.

Focusing on the use of co-design to address complex social and public issues, this course explores key principles and methods for co-creating change.

Why do this course?

This program offers practical ways to apply the core principles of systemic design practice.
This is a unique opportunity to be guided by an expert, learn from other practitioners, and gain practical skills for successful co-design.

How is it delivered?

This course consists of fourteen weeks of learning, which take place across four months for 10-22 participants. The content is structured across three modules, featuring six live and interactive online training sessions delivered once a fortnight, with self-directed learning modules taking place on alternating weeks.

COURSE OVERVIEW

Module 1: Designing strategically to change systems

Understand the purpose-driven nature of co-design.
Determine when co-design is appropriate and most effective.
Distinguish between consultation and collaboration.
Identify, explore and scope problems and opportunities.
Recognise complexity through systems mapping.

Module 2: Learning from different kinds of wisdom

Embrace adaptive learning and deep listening.
Identify an array of discovery methods.
Prepare for research and testing.
Practise prototyping for learning.
Respect lived experience and Indigenous Knowledges.

Module 3: Rebalancing power in practice

Explore power dynamics and power-sharing techniques.
Value relationships and roles in co-design teams.
Identify, invite and engage participants from priority groups.
Understand the importance of inclusive facilitation.
Prepare for completion and closure, fostering community ownership.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

Participant numbers are capped at 22
Weekly content over 4 months (with a couple of breaks)
6 x 2-hour live Zoom sessions
Pre-recorded videos and activities each fortnight
2 x 45-minute individual coaching calls (valued at $500)
Online forum to connect, share, ask and learn with peers and expert
Optional additional peer connection and group work

Who is leading this?

This program is delivered by Dr Emma Blomkamp, who brings extensive experience in co-design facilitation and capability building, creating safe and engaging spaces for practitioner development. We also invite special guests with deep experience on relevant topics to deliver custom content and activities, especially for this cohort.

Is this course for me?

This course assumes a basic understanding and familiarity with design, innovation and systems change, but no specific experience is required.

✅ It is ideal for you if:

already understand the philosophy of co-design for social/systems innovation
want more tools and techniques to apply in your work
work in a public, social or community setting
enjoy learning and sharing with peers
can commit at least two hours per week over four months
can motivate yourself to keep up with content outside of live sessions.

❌ It is not for you if you:

are quite new to co-design (take our Fundamentals course first)
have a lot of co-design experience and are seeking more critical reflections on practice
(consider coaching or mentoring instead)
only care about increasing profit or getting ahead in your career and aren’t interested in social outcomes
expect the course to make you an expert in co-design or systemic design
plan to watch recordings at a later date and not participate in live sessions.

📆 2025 schedule

The next course starts on Thursday 10 July, with live fortnightly sessions from Thursday 17 July between 10.30am and 12.30pm AEST (Melbourne time).

🕰️That’s 8.30am-10.30am Perth / 10am-12pm Adelaide & Darwin / 12.30pm-2.30pm NZ Time.

📍 This is on Wednesdays in North America, starting July 2nd: 5.30pm-7.30pm PDT / 8.30pm-10.30pm EDT.

🌎 Located elsewhere? Find out what time this is for you.

✅ Investment & payment options

Pricing

Early-bird registration: $1,990 AUD incl. GST per person.
Available if you register and pay in full before 30 May 2025.

Standard registration: $2,300 incl. GST per person.
This can be paid in four monthly instalments of $575 — contact us to request an instalment plan.

International participants: $1,300 USD per person.
This can be paid in four instalments of $325 USD — contact us to request an invoice.

Your place is confirmed upon receipt of full payment/the first monthly instalment.

Includes:

Weekly content over 4 months (with a couple of breaks)
6 x 2-hour live Zoom sessions
Pre-recorded videos and activities each fortnight
2 x 45-minute individual coaching calls (valued at $500)
Access to resource hub
Online forum to connect, share, ask and learn with peers
Optional additional peer connection and group work

Payment Options:

Payment options
Register directly via Humanitix to pay via credit card or request an invoice in AUD.
International participants can contact the team to request an invoice free of GST in another currency if based outside of Australia. Learn more about our payment options.

Scholarships
We offer two scholarship places for First Nations practitioners for each of our courses, and a discount for participants with an income under $70,000 AUD per year. Please see our scholarships page for more information and to apply.

Access
When you register, we will ask if you have any access needs or learning preferences. You can view a summary of how we learn, what platforms we use and what accessible features we provide by default here.

💬 Previous participants have said…

“This course is a stellar example of what putting co-design principles into practice looks like! If every design and research practitioner could take this course and apply the teachings to their work, I think we’d have a much better shot at improving and transforming capitalist systems. Absolutely take this course.”
- Risha Lee, Design Manager, Nava.

“Principles into Practice is a mix of real-world know-how and solid theory, all shared in a way that invites you to truly engage and reflect, in a space where you can feel safe and supported.”
- Lucy Cummins, Service Designer, ABC.

“A big highlight was watching how Emma held space for each session—calmly, confidently, and openly. I learnt what co-design actually is—not just in theory, but in practice. In future roles, I’ll be able to advocate more clearly for authentic co-design and challenge situations where something is labelled as co-design but doesn’t truly reflect its principles. I feel confident standing for an approach that is different from the traditional “designing for” model, which often reinforces power-over, corporate, and patriarchal dynamics. This programme has reinforced my commitment to working with people in a way that is genuine, inclusive, and empowering.”
- Briar Goldie, Designer, Impact Collective.

“This course is deeply considered, and expertly blends the theoretical with the practical and experiential. It's an opportunity to slow down, reflect, think, and feel about co-design.”
- Nadia Bagley, Project Coordinator, Roses in the Ocean.

“I absolutely loved the Principles into Practice course. The course content was so interesting and relevant to my work in the lived experience research space. I enjoyed how the course was set out—the self paced and live sessions—as it meant I had time to explore and digest the content, but equally the opportunity to ask questions and connect with the other course participants. I would highly recommend this course to anyone who is interested in learning more in the co-design space, working with community members in a safe and respectful way or just wanting to brush up on their research skills. I have already seen myself pushing for new ways to involve community members so they have more power / decision making capability.”
- Ruby Nelson-Will, Program Coordinator, Haven Home Safe.

“Absolutely loved completing: Principles into Practice from New Know How! An incredible course run by Emma Blomkamp and friends, where I got to meet a bunch of wonderful like-minded, values-driven people from all different walks of life. It was great to learn, practice, and reflect together on our systemic design skills to build a more collaborative person-centred practice of our own. The platforms used enabled sharing throughout the course and a smorgasbord of great resources!”
- Jen Guha, Manager, System, Strategy and Innovation.