This reflective commentary explores a student-staff co-creation project focused on fostering inclusive employability within the School of Arts at Oxford Brookes University. Working with students from various creative disciplines, the project utilised human-centred design (HCD) to develop practical opportunities for professional development. Outlining the project's journey, including the challenges and unexpected discoveries, we argue that a more nuanced, conceptual representation of the HCD process is valid. One that acknowledges the inherent ambiguity, uncertainty, and constant interplay between research and practice, critically examining the limitations of simplified diagrams used to represent the HCD process. This article sets out to unpack how the 'messy' reality of design practice considered through a unique drawing relevant to each project, becomes a tool for reflection and learning. Our findings highlight the importance of embracing the messiness and recognising the complexities of design-led co-creation, particularly within staff-student partnerships.