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
-
•
Civic design is a young field with historical roots that inform its practice today.
-
•
Accessibility and participation are critical lenses through which to evaluate civic design work.
-
•
The work of Ed Roberts at UC Berkeley illustrates the power of community action in advocating for accessibility.
-
•
Sherry Arnstein's ladder of citizen participation highlights the importance of redistributing power in civic engagement.
-
•
Movements such as the Center for Independent Living have significantly shaped national discussions on disability rights and accessibility standards.
-
•
Participation without power redistribution leads to frustration and ineffective engagement.
-
•
Historical examples of urban design underscore the value of user observation in creating effective public spaces.
-
•
The Taiwan Gov Zero movement exemplifies the impact of civic technology on participatory governance.
-
•
Civic design's development has been influenced by various fields including social justice, urban planning, and service design.
-
•
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."
















More Videos

"Design has been in the DNA of MailChimp really since day one."
Jacqui FreyFlow and Superfluidity for Design Orgs
November 7, 2018

"The words we use should enable clear paths of understanding so recipients know their role."
Laura Gatewood Laine ProkayBeyond Buzzwords: Adding Heart to Effective Slack Communication
September 23, 2024

"Research was completely evaluative and tactical, which bored the product teams."
Johanna KollmannInsights-Driven Product Strategy: Get your Research to Count
December 6, 2022

"This conference could not happen without our sponsors."
Bria AlexanderDay 3 Welcome
September 25, 2024

"Designing for an edge case can benefit everyone."
Billy CarlsonIdeation tips for Product Managers
December 6, 2022

"Don’t underestimate the power of storytelling in conveying users’ needs to stakeholders."
Catherine DubutBridging Physical and Digital Spaces: Approaches to Retail Service Design
March 18, 2021

"The V2Mom framework helps us align our personal and company values effectively."
Kim Holt Emma Wylds Pearl Koppenhaver Maisee XiongA Salesforce Panel Discussion on Values-Driven DesignOps
September 8, 2022

"We are not special; every discipline is going through transformation right now."
Adrian HowardSturgeon’s Biases
September 25, 2024

"Design is often the first gig up for elimination."
Asia HoePartnering with Product: A Journey from Junior to Senior Design
November 29, 2023