Charlotte Vorbeck
Senior Experience Designer, Digital Service 4 Germany
Shahzma Esmail
Public Interest Designer, Government of Ontario
Edward Alton
Senior UX Designer, Ad Hoc LLC
Sarah McArthur
Head of Innovation Practice, City of Melbourne
Ariel Kennan
Senior Fellow, Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation
Summary
There is an outpouring of designers and researchers who are interested in building their practice in the civic space; and there’s a wealth of public service emerging. There are also many policy and program professionals who are starting to use design as part of their jobs. Through their global perspectives, panelists will share personal trajectories, what it is like working inside or alongside government and tips for succeeding as a civic designer, researcher or leader. We’ll also explore how government entities and contractors might rethink recruiting talent and building an inclusive pipeline to civic design.
Key Insights
-
•
Civic design attracts individuals from diverse backgrounds interested in improving public services.
-
•
Myths about government bureaucracy can often overshadow the dedication and talent of public sector employees.
-
•
Hiring practices must evolve to reflect the diverse communities that government serves.
-
•
Creating equitable hiring processes helps to include marginalized voices in design.
-
•
Building lasting relationships within government leads to greater impacts on design implementation.
-
•
Designers can significantly improve public services through user-centered approaches.
-
•
The importance of creating cultures where diverse voices are heard and valued within teams.
-
•
Networking with peers in civic design helps to foster collaboration and innovative solutions.
-
•
Equity in design is crucial; it increases the effectiveness of public service delivery.
-
•
Design should be accessible and inclusive for all individuals, reflecting their lived experiences.
Notable Quotes
"People working in the public sector are absolutely idealistic, hardworking, and well-educated."
"If you really think this is a thing for you, seek a place where you don’t do this alone."
"Building a culture and environment where diverse people feel comfortable will attract more talent."
"The speed of change is different in government, but the ability to implement is stronger."
"We could still be the thing they’re looking for even if the job description says otherwise."
"Sometimes design roles aren’t called design roles, so show the skills you have."
"Show how you can add unique value to the team."
"Trust is at the core of making an impact in government work."
"Ask questions, meet people where they are, and engage in those conversations."
"It’s crucial to leave things better than you found them, no matter the scope of your role."
More Videos
"AI should support real human research, not replace it entirely."
Noz UrbinaRapid AI-powered UX (RAUX): A framework for empowering human designers
May 1, 2025
"Not just making things up here on stage; there's actually an underlying structure."
Jim KalbachJazz Improvisation as a Model for Team Collaboration
June 4, 2019
"You can use this to define who you are going to hire next."
Holly ColeUnderstanding Experiences: When you have to do more than work
November 8, 2018
"With UXPin, you can build full interfaces that you can properly usability test without assumptions."
Jack BeharHow to Build Prototypes that Behave like an End-Product
December 6, 2022
"We are still a community, and we are obligated to treat each other with kindness and respect."
Bria AlexanderOpening Remarks
October 3, 2023
"Organizations must build a culture of safe experimentation and reward curiosity."
Erika FlowersAI-Readiness: Preparing NASA for a Data-Driven, Agile Future
June 10, 2025
"The future of education lies in collaboration and adaptation."
Kristin SkinnerFive Years of DesignOps
September 29, 2021
"Big ears mean listening to other people more than you're listening to yourself."
Jim KalbachJazz Improvisation as a Model for Team Collaboration
November 6, 2017
"The future solutions will come from harnessing creativity at scale."
Surya VankaUnleashing Swarm Creativity to Solve Enterprise Challenges
June 10, 2021
