Design skills for democracy

Theme: Design skills

Join us for a fishbowl discussion where 4 speakers and the audience will tackle the question: What skills do designers need to work effectively in government? 

This is an interactive session where the audience will take over the conversation! The 4 thought leaders who will spark the conversation are: Jen Ballie (V&A Dundee), George Aye (Greater Good Studios), Laura Yarrow (GDS), Andrew Knight (Government School of Design). The session is called Design skills for democracy and will take place on Wednesday afternoon at 1530 -1630.

Governments increasingly rely on designers to shape public policies, services and spaces. Yet many designers working in government develop the capabilities needed for this work informally through projects, communities of practice and short courses rather than through structured professional education.

This interactive fishbowl session explores a simple question: what skills do designers need to work effectively in government?

The discussion will be introduced through the creation of the Government School of Design, a new institution within the UK Civil Service established to strengthen public design capability. 

Four discussants drawn from the conference presenter roster will begin the conversation before opening the circle to participants. Together we will explore the capabilities designers need to shape public decisions and navigate the realities of working inside government.

Participant takeaways:

• reflect on the skills designers need to shape policies, services and spaces within democratic systems
• learn from peers about the capabilities required to navigate government institutions and decision-making
• explore how designers develop professional capability through practice, communities and education
• gain insight into emerging approaches to strengthening design capability inside government

This session:

• includes interaction