Blog Post
Co-Designing Technology for Human-Centered Public Services
Background In the Spring of 2025, our Ridiculously Hopeful Futures (RHF) project invited community members and public benefits administrators across…
We believe in the power of inclusive, collaborative design to shape a better world.
RECENT WORK
BayREN – Equity Assessment of an Energy Efficiency Program
Helping to make an energy efficiency program more equitable
![Data visualization that shows the proportion of interviewees that were represented across 3 categories: Program Goals, Paths to BayREN, and Measures that were pursued.]()
Calbright College – Quality Jobs Framework
A customized framework to define ‘good jobs’ according to Calbright students
![Sample pages from the quality jobs framework]()
EPIC | Humboldt County Benefits Access Pilot
A pilot program to close benefits cliffs, co-designed with community members and service providers
![A small group of co-design session attendees are seated around a table, deep in discussion.]()
5-Year Technology Roadmap for Berkeley Public Library
Developing a 5-Year Technology Roadmap through an equitable engagement process
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City of LA Workforce: A 5-Year Path Forward
A 5-Year Strategy for the workforce development ecosystem in the City of Los Angeles
![Several people are spread out around 6 different tables, writing ideas on post-its to help shape the priorities of the plan.]()
What We Do
We unearth insights and co-create solutions to public challenges through strategic planning, community engagement and human-centered design.
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Insights & Learning
Ideas, tools, and resources from our community of CivicMakers
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Blog Post
Four Key Takeaways from a Co-Design Session in Humboldt County
At a time when public benefits programs are in a state of uncertainty due to the utter chaos ensuing at…
![Picture of one of the teams sharing their vision worksheets with each other.]()
resource
Ecosystem Mapping
A visual tool to understand the people, organizations, and systems shaping a problem or experience.
![High level visual of the Ecosystem Map template in MURAL]()
Blog Post
Tool Case Study: Developing Personas in the Santa Barbara County Workforce Development Board
The CivicMakers Team led the inaugural Workforce Transformation Corps cohort, in partnership with Make Fast Studio, Jobs for the Future,…
![A high level view of key categories used in this Persona. Some elements include: Age, Location, Race/Ethnicity, Language Preference, Family, Education Level, Skills, Employment, and Challenges/ Barriers.]()
ABOUT US
A team of pragmatic optimists
CivicMakers is a strategic consultancy and community of practitioners that believe in the power of inclusive, collaborative design. We envision a world where every person has the tools, skills, and capacities to advance collaborative decision-making, and every community has what they need to co-create solutions.
Who we work with
“Hands down best vendor partnership I’ve experienced in my public sector career … making a difference!”
Kelli Parmley Assistant Director of Human Resources, City of San Jose
