By linking contemporary practice using design principles in policy with political science and public administration theories, this book offers a distinctive contribution to debates on policy design. The book is conceived as a conversation between theory and practice. It goes beyond traditional scholarship to offer not solely a critique of what exists, but to set out proposals for alternatives. Policy design is fundamentally about substantive and instrumental ambitions to achieve better policy outcomes. In the face of glaring inadequacies and limitations in addressing many of the complex challenges we face as a society, this book challenges conventional policy design and opens up a conversation about how to imagine and realise a radically democratic alternative form of policy design: co-production. First, through a series of heuristics, the book generates theoretical tensions and encourages creative thinking about policy design. Then, compelling international contributions from practitioners, policy makers, activists and engaged scholars provide specific contexts for these theoretical debates. In doing so, the book provides both a framing and grounding for ongoing debates and provides a means for advancing experimentation in policy design.This important book is a response to crises of public policy. Offering an original contribution to a growing debate, the authors argue that traditional technocratic ways of designing policy are inadequate to cope with increasingly complex challenges, and suggest co-production as a more democratic alternative. Drawing on 12 compelling international contributions from practitioners, policy makers, activists and actively engaged academics, ideas of power are used to explore how genuine democratic involvement in the policy process from those outside the elites of politics can shape society for the better. The authors present insights on why and how to generate change in policy processes, arguing for increased experimentation in policy design. The book will be a valuable resource for researchers and students in public policy, public administration, sociology and politics.Drawing on twelve compelling international contributions, this important book argues that traditional technocratic ways of designing policy are now inadequate and suggest co-production as a more democratic alternative. The book will be a valuable resource for researchers and students.