Summary
The design establishment is rooted in the same inequities rampant throughout our societies. In civic design it is especially critical we adopt inclusive and equitable methods to best accommodate the varied realities of the People we serve. Let's spend time reflecting on the sources of our design practices, who benefits, who is harmed, and who is included/excluded. Who has power? What about the key performance metrics our government agencies monitor? Why are existing approaches problematic? Where are the roots of these issues, and when did things change? How do we get started with more humanity-centered approaches? Here are key steps to tackle processes and address inequity, unconscious bias, privilege, oppression, etc. that come from the roots of our established design systems, to invite a method of 'Design By' that empowers the People we serve. Let's leave no one behind.
Key Insights
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Designers hold significant power in deciding who is included and excluded in design processes.
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The traditional 'design for' mindset aligns with colonialist and white supremacy value systems, emphasizing power hoarding and paternalism.
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Design with and design by approaches share power, empowering communities to lead their own design outcomes.
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Equality means equal access, but equity means achieving equal outcomes by tailoring solutions to individual needs.
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Evaluating who benefits and who is harmed by design decisions uncovers systemic exclusion and biases.
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Hiring should prioritize lived experience alongside academic and work credentials to capture full human perspectives.
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Participatory design methods enable voices of marginalized people to be heard, improving outcomes and collaboration.
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Provocative prototypes can spark important conversations by challenging assumptions and evoking emotional responses.
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Continuous self-reflection and addressing personal bias or privilege are essential for inclusive design work.
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Design justice and anti-racism resources like Creative Reaction Lab and DQ University offer tools to deepen inclusive design practices.
Notable Quotes
"Designers have power to decide who gets heard, who gets included, who gets excluded."
"The status quo design mindset aligns with tenets of white supremacy culture like power hoarding and paternalism."
"We need to move to a place of designing with rather than designing for."
"Equality is equal access, but equity is equal outcomes."
"Work on yourself. Learn what your baggage is. Understand your identity and your privilege."
"Who benefits and who is harmed by design decisions — we have to be mindful of that."
"Hiring for lived experience, not just academics or work experience, is crucial."
"Provocative prototypes are designed to evoke reactions and spark needed conversations."
"Participatory design means everyone at the table is equal, and everyone’s voice matters."
"The absence of empathy and understanding is causing a lot of pain; folks just don’t know what they don’t know."
Dig deeper—ask the Rosenbot:
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