Change Agents Cohort 6.0 met online on 11 November 2025 for a hands-on session with Jethro Sercombe, Director of Innovation Practice at Third Story, a non-profit in Australia focused on social innovation and systemic change. The theme was simple and powerful: explore design and its value to social change.
“Great design fits who you are. It feels natural and easy”, Jethro said.
Jethro walked the group through the Double Diamond model and why design is as much about how we learn as what we make.
The Double Diamond, in practice
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Discover insights into the problem by talking to people and observing.
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Define the area to focus on.
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Develop potential solutions.
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Deliver solutions that work.
A breakout discussion helped the group navigate through each of these steps and focus on what happens when we co-create with communities:
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People are more likely to love the result.
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People gain ownership.
The session stressed empathy and practical methods such as focus groups and non-participatory observation. The team practised a “Rant and Listener” exercise to build listening muscles.
What’s next
Change Agents will prepare discovery plans, keep interview questions simple, and develop case studies in preparation for a follow-up meeting in late November. They will also create personas that:
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avoid stereotypes
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are based on real research
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reflect the voices of the people involved