Expanding Design’s Role in the Governance Paradigms of Democracy

Design is increasingly recognized as a key agent in government innovation in the United States. Designers, as problem framers and catalysts for change, play a crucial role in transforming the functionality and accessibility of government systems and processes. However, this role is often narrowly defined, typically focusing on the improvement of digital services, especially through User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI) approaches within digital government spaces. While these contributions are valuable, they represent only a fraction of the potential for design methodologies to foster more participatory, accessible, and effective governance structures. As design becomes more embedded as a strategy for innovation at the national, state, and local levels, the broader contributions of designers, beyond digital services, require deeper articulation and categorization. This paper explores how design is reshaping governance systems in the U.S. at local, state, and national levels, with a focus on non-digital applications that leverage design strategies and methods to address systemic challenges within government structures. The research we conducted identifies and categorizes methods designers use to implement participatory governance innovations, addressing questions such as: Who designs, under what contextual frameworks, and how are appropriate levels of participation established? Specifically, it introduces a framework for understanding levels of participation in governance design, emphasizing the need for equitable distribution of labor and resources. By examining how and in what contexts people are engaged in the redesign of democratic structures, this paper frames the act of designing governance as a matter of proximity, access, and equity embedded in the design of governmental artifacts and interfaces. Three case studies at the local, state, and national levels demonstrate the use of design in processes beyond digital public service implementation. A matrix is introduced to systematically articulate the processes of designing governance, highlighting how design methodologies have advanced accessibility and equity within governance structures. These contributions intersect across various levels, national, state, and local. The first case examines the Federal Government's creation of a Public Participation and Community Engagement Toolkit through a participatory process. The second case focuses on New Jersey’s Future of Work Task Force, which engaged thousands of residents to express their concerns regarding new technologies and to redesign the future of work. The third case discusses a participatory design process in Portland, Oregon, to redesign mayoral and city council member districts and structure. Ultimately, this paper argues that designers, through creative and participatory methods, can facilitate better functionality and accessibility across a range of governance services. This research seeks to broaden the understanding of designers' contributions to governance innovation and contribute to the evolving landscape of governance paradigms.