This article discusses anthropology as an interventionist practice inspired by design approaches. Firstly, we consider some inspiring design projects we have encountered and review the existing literature on design anthropology. Then, we provide examples from our own ethnographic research, unpacking the in-between practice of ‘re-designing’. Our article stems from an interest to open up and equip the venues where ethnography is done in order to put the social in active suspension while studying it. That is why we propose to practice anthropology as a form of re-design, materialising inventive ways of entering ethnographic conversations. This is not an easy task, we reckon. It requires learning to appreciate the rich terrain where anthropological and design practices mingle. Finally, in addition to discussing the role design has taken in recent anthropological endeavours, we also attempt to think how we could be re-designing our discipline back, outlining possible ways.