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Several people are grouped around a table in discussion. There is paper rolled across the table. There are post-its and sharpies that are being used to respond to a prompt that is at their table saying: [Interaction] How might we ensure stories are contextualized and don't misrepresent participants?

Service Areas

Building a world where public services are welcoming, just, and easy to navigate

We provide design services to address the challenges faced by the public sector and the communities they serve. Our team takes a people-first approach, diving deep to understand different pain points, needs, hopes, and concerns.

We bring our partners into the design process to improve programs and services, engage their communities, and build capacity to carry the work forward.

Service Design & Evaluation

Centering your programs and services around real needs and meaningful experiences

Strategic Planning

Creating alignment and collective ownership around your vision and priorities

Training & Capacity Building

Facilitating professional development opportunities that engage and connect

Community & Stakeholder Engagement

Engaging diverse, representative groups to build trust and consensus

 

Our impact shows up in more inclusive experiences for people who use services, empowered public servants who lead with empathy and equity, and a growing network of agencies who use design to shape more just, resilient futures.

Recent Projects

A close-up of several post-its with ideas and drawings arranged on a roll of brown paper on a table. They are seen from upside down in the photo as the photographer stands on the other side of the table. In the top left corner, a pair of hands are holding a few post-its, about to add them to the group. There are also several colored markers and sharpies nearby.

Service Design & Evaluation

Through rigorous research we inform the design of public programs and services. We uncover insights by centering lived experience and mapping out unclear processes. Our team looks at both staff and client experience in order to align service delivery and systems with the greatest needs.

We’ve helped to establish programs, evaluate services, and create frameworks to continuously improve.

A Glimpse Into Our Work

Process

Products
  • We conduct assessments that uplift service experiences to make improvements that respond to people’s needs
  • We use participatory research methods to restore trust and uplift different types of expertise
  • We prioritize consent and reciprocity in our research efforts to center dignity and agency
  • We learn from what’s working and test new ideas to nurture a culture of evaluation and adjustments
  • Service blueprints that map multiple touchpoints
  • Succinct and actionable evaluation reports
  • Prototypes of improvements, to test and refine

 

Learn More & Check Out Our Case Studies

A large conference room is set-up with several tables in the middle. At each table is a different topic and post-its for attendees to brainstorm current efforts and new project ideas. Four people are arranged around the tables, from our view, and are all actively writing ideas on post-its.

Strategic Planning

We co-design plans that guide a department, city, organization, or service ecosystem toward its long term goals. As your partners, we will take you step by step through the planning process, to help you set clear priorities and map out a path to get there.

We know it’s important to create shared ownership for a plan to be successful. In all our projects, we emphasize collaboration and collective visioning as we gradually build elements of the plan.

A Glimpse Into Our Work

Process

Products
  • We collect input from multiple perspectives to shape a collective vision and priorities
  • We facilitate regular engagement and co-ownership in the process to create deep alignment and trust
  • We observe how teams collaborate to identify and address barriers that can slow things down
  • We focus on practical implementation plans, and well-scoped projects, to help you act on priorities
  • Strategic Plans for within a city or across multiple organizations
  • Implementation toolkits to help you take the first step
  • ‘Experiential Futures’ workshops to envision new systems

 

Learn More & Check Out Our Case Studies

A CivicMakers facilitator is standing in the middle of a training room holding a worksheet and gesturing while giving instructions to the room. Around 25 people are working in groups throughout the room.

Training & Capacity Building

We facilitate workshops and trainings that create safe spaces to learn new skills. We engage participants through interactive activities that support collaboration “learn by doing.”

Our team of curriculum designers and facilitators are also full-time practitioners. We share with you our lessons from the field along with new approaches in co-design and trauma-informed practices.

A Glimpse Into Our Work

Process

Products
  • We tailor our curriculum to ensure each new group finds the session(s) relevant and meaningful
  • We bring people together through interactive and one-on-one activities to create opportunities for empathy-building and peer learning
  • We apply equitable facilitation techniques to foster a learning environment that is safe and welcoming to everyone
  • Trainings that teach core human-centered design skills
  • Workshops that guide participants through a step in the design process
  • Applied learning programs that coach teams to research a real challenge and test ideas to address it

 

Learn More & Check Out Our Case Studies

Three people are standing in front of a wall with several posters taped up. The posters include a large map with red and blue dots placed in different locations, there are also a couple posters where people have already placed several post-its.

Community & Stakeholder Engagement

Effective community and stakeholder engagement starts with building trust. Before we design an engagement strategy, we learn how community members and stakeholders want to be engaged, and what issues are important to them. These inputs guide us in co-creating customized engagement plans that lead to real community insights.

A Glimpse Into Our Work

Process

Products
  • We use plain language and unified messaging to make complex topics understandable across diverse groups and interests
  • We lead engaging workshops to surface insights and move groups toward shared understanding
  • We center groups around core values and real needs to find common ground among conflicting priorities
  • We work closely with our partners and share our tools and practices to build capacity for further engagements
  • Outreach campaigns that generate interest and participation
  • Online feedback opportunities that reach broad groups and generate useful data
  • Workshops that build trust and surface practical insights
  • Detailed reports that highlight insights and actionable next steps

 

Learn More & Check Out Our Case Studies