Design discipline is undergoing a significant transformation, expanding its scope to engage with complex societal challenges across diverse sectors. Design now plays a critical role in addressing systemic issues, fostering social innovation, and driving strategic organizational change. This chapter provides a foundational overview of the strategic role of design in diverse domains, including new product development, business innovation, and the creation of competitive advantages, as well as in promoting social impact and systemic transitions. Building on existing research and theoretical advancements, this chapter introduces the focus and objectives of this book, exploring the application of strategic design in the development of innovation strategies for organisations in the third sector, which operate at the intersection of social responsibility and business innovation.