This PhD study investigates how design can support inclusive policymaking in China, using the development of museum policies for visually impaired visitors as a practical example. This example was selected because visually impaired individuals face notable barriers when accessing museums. As public service institutions, museums hold both a duty and an opportunity to address this exclusion through inclusive policy efforts. The research draws on both design research and policy studies, applying them to the topic of inclusive museums within the Chinese context. The aim is to understand the value and limitations of using design to enhance inclusivity in policymaking, and to assess the relevance of design-led policymaking in China. Globally, ideas such as ‘collaborative governance’ and ‘design for policy’ reflect a growing trend towards involving citizens in policymaking to better meet societal needs. However, a gap remains in the literature when this is viewed through the lens of design. In countries like China, where the population is ageing and the number of people with disabilities is the highest in the world, there is limited research on how to include people with diverse abilities—such as visual impairments—within collaborative policy processes. The development of policies to make museums more inclusive offers a timely and relevant opportunity to examine this issue. Despite some interest in innovative approaches, design has received little attention from Chinese policymakers and policy researchers. As a result, the role that design could play in promoting inclusive policymaking remains underexplored. This study uses a qualitative approach named ‘Participatory Action Research through Design’. It involves a practice-based research process structured into three phases: ‘Scoping’, ‘Designing’, and ‘Learning’. Each phase has a distinct goal, with outcomes informing the next phase of the research. The work was carried out in collaboration with a Chinese policy team involved in related policies, along with visually impaired experts and museum professionals. The process aimed to examine how design, and the role of the designer, could be applied in the Chinese context to identify policy opportunities and to promote an inclusive, collaborative method of developing policy ideas with relevant stakeholders. Findings show that while the application of design for policy in China faces some challenges, it is possible to use design to support inclusive change in policymaking. When supported by a society-centred design approach and effective leadership, design can help promote inclusivity at every stage—from raising awareness to shaping outcomes. These insights were used to create an ‘Inclusive Policy Design Framework’, which demonstrates how design can help enable more inclusive forms of collaborative governance across different contexts. This research contributes to knowledge about how design can help shape inclusive policymaking, ensuring that citizens with diverse abilities are involved meaningfully and their needs considered. It also offers a specific example of how a designer can support inclusive transformation in policy work, by creating enabling environments—even when working within challenging constraints.