Log in or create a free Rosenverse account to watch this video.
Log in Create free account100s of community videos are available to free members. Conference talks are generally available to Gold members.
Perspectives on Civic Design
Summary
Key Insights
-
•
Civic design unites diverse practitioners from all government levels and design disciplines under an inclusive 'vanilla' term.
-
•
Designers in government increasingly work at the intersection of design, policy, and strategy rather than just craft.
-
•
Following policy as rigorously as following money helps identify real constraints and change opportunities in civic design.
-
•
Embedding subject matter experts, like prison officers in justice system design, creates critical insights for service innovation.
-
•
Building trust with stakeholders, especially naysayers, requires patience, candor, and demonstrating tangible design value.
-
•
Designers play a vital translator role, balancing technical accessibility (508 compliance, SEO) with engaging aesthetics to reach audiences.
-
•
Small, visible wins such as posters or quick prototypes help overcome fatigue and build momentum in complex government systems.
-
•
Procurement and RFP structures often hinder outcome-focused design work, emphasizing deliverables rather than systemic change.
-
•
Activists should be engaged as collaborators or embedded team members to effect meaningful civic change from within.
-
•
Content designers are integral to Civic Tech teams, pushing accessible and audience-focused messaging forward.
Notable Quotes
"We need to follow the policy because that was the thing that created so many roadblocks."
"I often think of myself as a stakeholder strategist because sometimes the design title doesn’t quite capture it."
"Good design with great SEO and accessibility can change your audience by a magnitude."
"We love the naysayers; those grumpy people become some of the most valuable partners once you get their buy-in."
"Design is translation—both technically with H1 tags and in words people understand."
"Sometimes a poster galvanizes support far better than another workshop or meeting ever could."
"We move at the speed of trust—that's how partnerships and design wins happen."
"Hiring local talent embeds lived experience directly in government decision making."
"Too often RFPs ask us to deliver things instead of solve problems."
"Activists inside the system are often the ones untangling the rubber band ball."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"Half of the service design professionals do not feel connected to their peers, which is significant."
Marc Fonteijn Ru ButlerIncrease your confidence, influence, and impact (through a Professional Community)
December 3, 2024
"Trust is something to build and maintain, not a box to check or a one-time achievement."
Dem Gerolemou Alexis Oh Neef RehmanClimate technology fundamentals
May 15, 2024
"Mobile users gave Amazon a higher Net Promoter Score than desktop users, indicating a better mobile experience."
Daniela Magaña Flores Ariane Rahn Jeff Ephraim BanderAhead of Competition: Learn What UX Benchmarking Can Do for Your Business Today
March 10, 2022
"I got a no. The message I was hearing was, scale the best you can with what you have and make it work."
Abbey Smalley Sylas SouzaScaling UX Past the Size of Your Team
January 8, 2024
"We automated everything — now we click a button weekly to produce updated staffing and priority alignment scores."
Patrick CommarfordDesign Staffing for Impact
January 8, 2024
"We were interested in supporting networks of self-organization and mutual aid formed between refugees and host communities."
Xenia Adjoubei Sean BruceEmpowering Communities Through the Researcher in Residence Program
March 29, 2023
"Making something easier isn't necessarily always better and can create addictive behaviors."
Craig VillamorDesign Systems for Ethical Design
January 26, 2023
"Design teams face challenges because inputs live in PDFs, Figma files, Slack messages, spreadsheets, and more."
Jon Fukuda Ellie KryslDesign Planning and Management Support
October 3, 2023
"Ambiguity is like doing a 3000-piece puzzle without knowing what the end picture looks like. You start piecing edges first."
Iain McMaster IHan ChengDesign and Product: from Frenemy to Harmony
November 29, 2023
