System Innovation
System design to meet the needs of a changing world.
The world is shifting – fast. Climate change, technological disruption, geopolitical instability, and social transformation are placing new demands on the systems we rely on: government, healthcare, education, the economy. These systems must adapt or risk becoming irrelevant, ineffective, or unjust.
System Innovation is how we help those systems respond. If we want public systems that are resilient, inclusive, and future fit, we need to go beyond incremental improvement. We must reimagine and design for preferred futures – ones that are equitable, regenerative, and responsive to the people they serve.
But no single agency, sector, or organisation can do this alone. System innovation demands collective action – it thrives on collaboration across silos, disciplines, and communities. It’s about connecting unlikely allies, unlocking new thinking, and aligning diverse actors around shared outcomes. When we design change at the system level, we don’t just solve problems – we create momentum for transformation.
Our Approach to System Innovation
- We build coalitions: System innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. We convene diverse stakeholders — from government, NGOs, communities, and industry — to explore new ways of working together. We harness the creative friction between perspectives to spark innovation.
- We apply futures thinking: We use foresight tools — including scenario planning, trend analysis, and speculative design — to anticipate disruption and design for what’s next. We help clients act decisively today while building the systems of tomorrow.
- We take an outcome-focused approach: Using a Theory of Change, we define long-term outcomes, map the pathways to achieve them, and identify signals that show progress. Rather than locking into fixed solutions, we design interventions that evolve with the system.
- We run innovation sprints: We help clients move quickly and strategically, using our rapid sprint method to generate and test ideas that work.
What You Can Expect
- Strategic insights into systemic barriers and leverage points
- High-impact, cross-sector collaboration
- Outcome-focused pathways to impact
- Collective action with meaningful progress
- Learning mindset that iterates and evolves action to realise change
- Renewed momentum for bold, systemic reform
