Designing
Intangibles

A community for people working at the edges of design where policy, culture, and practice meet.

Find out more

What this is

Some of the most interesting design work is happening in places where design doesn't always have a clear name. Community. Policy. Culture. The kind of work where the thing you're shaping is always slightly out of grasp.

Designing Intangibles is a small community gathering for people navigating those conditions and trying to figure out what good practice looks like in them.

It's rooted in design as a framing and anchor, but it isn't just for people who call themselves designers. If you recognise the territory, you're welcome here.

Who it's for

People working in the design of things that aren't always tangible: policy design, co-design, culture, organisational design.

A space where academia and practice come together. Researchers, public servants, strategists, practitioners. Anyone navigating the same conditions and trying to figure out what good looks like.

How we do it

Offline-centred. Minimal overhead. Small if that's what it stays. No fixed outcomes or predetermined outputs. Just honest conversation with people working on hard things.

Inclusive and welcoming with an open structure. People can host versions of this in other places, in other forms.

The format

A meandering talk

We meet and make our way along a route together, carrying shared prompts. Smaller conversations happen naturally as we go, and there's no pressure to speak to everyone.

A probe to carry

Each gathering has a topic and a few prompts. Something to spark thinking before you arrive, or just something to hold in mind on the day.

Congregate

We end somewhere comfortable and discuss where we've landed. We let threads that started in groups continue in the open.

Rhythm

Every few months in line with the seasons. Minimal prep for everyone. Bring your own cup if you have one.

Next gathering

Now open

The changing role of design

Starting at Howard Place, Stockbridge, finishing at Custom Lane Thursday 4th June, 12:00–14:00

We'll be carrying one question with us: How is design showing up in your life, your role, and your space right now?

Prompt archive

Gathering #1 June 2026, Edinburgh

How is design showing up in your life, your role, your space right now?

Take this somewhere

Keeping it offline and local.

Designing Intangibles is rooted in Edinburgh. We want to keep it small, grounded, and tied to place. Maybe eventually it'll grow into a network, but for now we're happy to share. The format belongs to anyone who wants it.

If this idea resonates and you want to do something like it where you are (Glasgow, London, Cork, wherever), we'll share what we're learning. How we structure the gathering, the prompts we use, what makes the conversation work.

Start a local version, adapt it, make it yours.

We're figuring this out as we go, and we're happy to share what's working. If you want to start something local, get in touch and we'll send you what we have. Currently, that's a rough guide to the format, some example prompts, and a few things we'd do differently next time.

Get in touch

Stay in the loop

Come along.
Or follow
from a distance.

Sign up for occasional updates about upcoming gatherings.

Thanks. We'll be in touch when the next gathering is confirmed. See you there.
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