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Summary
At the April Civic Design Community call, hear from new community curator Kara Kane. She shares her experience scaling and leading the UK government’s user-centered design (UCD) communities and International Design in Government community while working at the Government Digital Service. Kara talks about how communities of practice are central to the transformation of public services. The communities she developed built design capability, aimed to create a culture of equity and inclusion and were core to developing and delivering standards and guidance for government.
Key Insights
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Communities of practice are essential for fostering continuous learning and professional growth in civic design.
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Effective communities require strong leadership and support; they are not self-sustaining.
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Diverse formats of engagement (events, training, online discussions) are crucial to accommodate varying participant needs.
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Clear communication and accessible resources aid in keeping community members informed and involved.
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Building connections with underrepresented groups in design promotes equity and inclusivity in civic design practices.
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Cross-organizational collaboration enhances the sharing of best practices and resources within communities of practice.
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Co-created guidance and frameworks can improve design maturity across different government sectors.
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Regular feedback loops from community members are necessary for adapting and improving training and resources.
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Case studies from successful community initiatives can help justify the value of design practices to stakeholders.
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Networking and sharing experiences globally can lead to innovative solutions to common civic design challenges.
Notable Quotes
"Communities of practice are about learning together and building capability."
"Leadership is essential in sustaining community efforts; they need visibility and support."
"Communities are the glue that brings together practices and people across silos."
"The best communities are organized around a shared domain and a shared practice."
"It's important to give people space to connect and learn from each other in community settings."
"We have to engage the community to really scale the work effectively."
"Design culture is about creating ways for people to collaborate and share knowledge."
"We should always strive for diversity in every aspect of community involvement."
"Inviting diverse voices into our communities enriches our overall practice."
"Everything we do should be linked to strategic priorities and community needs."
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