Summary
In this talk, Arielle Keenan, a senior fellow at Georgetown University's Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation, reflects on the growth and maturation of Civic design work over the past decade. She highlights how the once small community of practitioners in the U.S. has expanded both nationally and internationally, and how foundational design concepts are now better understood across diverse government teams. Arielle underscores the importance of recognizing the power and privilege held by designers and learning when to yield that power to community members, who are increasingly becoming active participants or consultants in the design process. She also explores the complexities of collaborating across organizational silos and with vendors, focusing on building healthy team cultures that embrace conflict productively. Throughout, she emphasizes an intentional approach to deepening equity, care, and impact both in design processes and outcomes. Arielle's insights prepare attendees to develop the skills needed to navigate the nuanced dynamics of Civic design today.
Key Insights
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The field of Civic design has grown from a small niche community to a broad, international network with deepening internal government culture.
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Designers in Civic design must balance wielding their power with yielding it to community members to foster equitable outcomes.
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Community members are no longer just end users but increasingly become active consultants and co-designers.
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Cross-organizational collaboration, including working with vendors, requires building healthy cultures that manage inherent conflicts.
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Many government teams now understand foundational design concepts, reducing the need for constant explanation.
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Civic design is still emergent and evolving with much to learn about equity and inclusive practices.
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Successful projects depend on navigating complex multi-stakeholder environments thoughtfully.
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Reflecting on power and privilege is critical for designers to operate responsibly in Civic design.
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Building skills to handle nuanced roles and conflicts is essential for Civic design practitioners.
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Equity and care should be integral to design processes, participants, and the impact they generate.
Notable Quotes
"We are always still learning, no matter if you’re new or have been doing this for years."
"When I started, there were a few practitioners in the U.S.; now we have a growing community of practice."
"I’m regularly surprised not having to explain foundational concepts of design inside government anymore."
"We heard about understanding the power and privilege we have as designers — how to wield it but also how to yield it."
"Community designing with community, and community members becoming consultants, is shifting the role of who designs."
"We must create healthy cultures and ways of working across organizational silos, including with vendors."
"Navigating inherent conflict that arises between many stakeholders is a key part of Civic design."
"We have so much more work and learning ahead in this still emergent field."
"We need to deepen equity and care in how we work, who we work with, and the impact we create."
"Building your skills to navigate the complexities of Civic design is what today’s session is about."
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