Bria Alexander
DesignOps Curator
Ariel Kennan
Senior Fellow, Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation
Charlotte Lee
Strategic Lead for CX and Innovation, Granicus
Sarah Brooks
Human Interface Design, Apple
Emily Lessard
Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Bellweather Agency
Gordon Ross
Vice President and Partner, OXD
Joanne Dong
Life-centred Design, Systems Innovation (Si) Toronto Hub
Summary
Join us to reflect one what we’ve shared and learned over the past three days at this first gathering of the global civic design community. We’ll consider together where our field is headed and our hopes for the future. Come to share your reflections and charge up on how you’ll take what you’ve learned back out into your work and practice.
Key Insights
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The conference fostered a sense of community among participants, fostering camaraderie and shared learning.
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Systemic design, ethics, and inclusion are crucial themes for the future of civic design, articulated by influential speakers.
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Engagement with community voices is essential; designers must facilitate deeper connections between government and the public.
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Civic design must evolve to incorporate trauma-informed and participatory approaches, addressing historical inequities.
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A call for long-term thinking in design processes to anticipate future challenges and societal impacts.
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Best practices in inclusive usability testing were shared, emphasizing the need for diverse participation in design processes.
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Collaboration across disciplines enriches civic design efforts and enhances the potential for impactful change.
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The significance of reflection and awareness in design practices was highlighted as fundamental for effective civic engagement.
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Aspirations for greater representation and inclusion were echoed, aiming for diverse perspectives in civic discussions and actions.
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Community ownership of design processes must be prioritized to ensure equitable outcomes and empower marginalized voices.
Notable Quotes
"Everyone understood the assignment and we felt a huge sigh of relief, like, oh my gosh, the right people are here."
"It's amazing to see how design can be applied in substantial ways to create social impact."
"If we can work ourselves out of a job, we've done our job as designers."
"The paradox of democratizing design while also cultivating true expertise poses a significant challenge."
"How do we ensure that community needs align with government needs?"
"We are all walking the path of positive deviants, trailblazers in civic design."
"Civic design is both a local and a global endeavor, and we need to nurture that."
"Remember that community voices must be included in the process, not just consulted."
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"We mostly have something called BYOE, or bring your own ethics, in the design industry."
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"Getting to know your stakeholders helps foster collaboration and understanding."
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