Summary
Civic design is a young field with old roots – and we forget those roots at our own peril. This talk will be a narrative survey, starting with activists challenging the design of public spaces in the 60s, and will trace a fifty year arc from those roots to the language of accessibility we use today so often in the public sector. We'll cover organizations, private and public, that have shaped the field, and end suggesting what we owe ourselves for the next fifty years. A reference guide for early careers, and a deeper contextualization for someone later in their career.
Key Insights
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Civic design is a young field with historical roots that inform its practice today.
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Accessibility and participation are critical lenses through which to evaluate civic design work.
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The work of Ed Roberts at UC Berkeley illustrates the power of community action in advocating for accessibility.
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Sherry Arnstein's ladder of citizen participation highlights the importance of redistributing power in civic engagement.
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Movements such as the Center for Independent Living have significantly shaped national discussions on disability rights and accessibility standards.
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Participation without power redistribution leads to frustration and ineffective engagement.
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Historical examples of urban design underscore the value of user observation in creating effective public spaces.
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The Taiwan Gov Zero movement exemplifies the impact of civic technology on participatory governance.
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Civic design's development has been influenced by various fields including social justice, urban planning, and service design.
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Acknowledge and share the historical influences in civic design to strengthen current practices and future developments.
Notable Quotes
"I'm really excited to spend a bit of time with you all this morning."
"Civic Tech, 10 years in... is actually 10 years into a 50 year project."
"I want to argue to you that Civic design is a young field with old roots."
"Independence did not just mean performing duties without assistance; it meant a radical self-determination."
"Participatory practices are rooted in conversations about power."
"Citizen participation without the redistribution of power is an empty and frustrating process."
"We often talk about participation about recruiting participants for user research or incorporating feedback into our work."
"We are a young field with old roots and we forget those roots at our own peril."
"The Center for Independent Living was founded in 1972, 50 years ago now."
"Rather than hoard these experiences, let’s be generous and open with them."
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