Innovation is essential in the complex and fluid social environment of tourism; for the practitioner, the essential capability is that of being able to learn and innovate, and to do so often. One must therefore reflect on how present methods of university education might equip tourism students (or indeed students in any social science) to develop the necessary innovation capability so as to meet the challenges of a complex, dynamic and essentially unpredictable world. Inspiration may arise from the field of design, wherein creativity and innovation are endemic. The design-inspired method of Participatory Inquiry may assist to bring about innovation in tourism firms and the use of Participatory Inquiry methods in education may provide a means to assist students to develop the innovative capability essential for future roles in the fluid, social arena or tourism.