Summary
In her talk, Arielle Keenan reflects on her decade-long experience in Civic design, highlighting the growth of the field and the emerging community of practitioners. She acknowledges the progress made yet stresses the ongoing challenges and learning opportunities in using design, data, and technology to enhance the social safety net. Keenan emphasizes the need for community involvement in design processes, addressing the importance of equity and care in design practices. She also touches on the complexities of collaborating across various organizational silos and the necessity of nurturing a healthy culture within teams. Keenan sets the stage for a day of learning, focusing on skill-building for navigating these complexities and the role of privilege in design work.
Key Insights
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Civic design is an emergent field with ongoing challenges and learning opportunities.
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There has been significant growth in the community of Civic designers in the U.S.
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It is essential for designers to acknowledge the power and privilege they wield.
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Collaboration with community members is becoming increasingly important in design processes.
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Healthy workplace cultures are crucial for effective Civic design.
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Designing with versus designing for communities shifts roles and responsibilities.
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Navigating conflicts among various stakeholders is a key aspect of Civic design.
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Equity and care should be central to design outputs and impacts.
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Continual skill-building is necessary for all practitioners, regardless of experience.
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Community members can significantly contribute as consultants in design projects.
Notable Quotes
"We're always still learning in this field of Civic design."
"I'm regularly pleasantly surprised to see a deeper internal culture inside many governments."
"We need to yield our power to others in design."
"The roles of who is designing are continually shifting in important ways."
"We should focus on creating healthy cultures across organizational silos."
"The inherent conflict among stakeholders must be navigated carefully."
"Our work must reflect equity and care in how we operate."
"A community-focused design process empowers local voices."
"Skill-building is essential for navigating complexities in Civic design."
"Let's celebrate the progress while recognizing there's still much to do."
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