Episode #4 Design for Public Sector Innovation Globally

Featuring Federico Vaz, Design and Futures Fellow for the United Nations Development Programme, as well as a Tutor and Researcher at the Royal College of Art in London, UK.

Federico previously served as a Design Researcher for the MIT GOV/LAB — a research lab within the Department of Political Science. During Federico’s time at MIT GOV/LAB, I served as Head of Design for the MIT GOV/LAB working together on the implementation of a new design approach for local governments in Abuja, Nigeria.

Federico primarily related to design as a verb, as in the action of designing, as well as an adjective in terms of by design. Federico describes, “The power of design, let’s say, is on being able to visualize certain things that otherwise you kind of know, but as an abstraction.”

My Key Takeaways.

1. Address the end user directly as opposed to hearing about the end user’s experience exclusively through government officials who work with end users

2. Create an atmosphere of creativity through norming — define how you all will act that will fuel creativity.

3. Get proximate to the community and build local relationships so that people know who you are before any request is made for their time and/or energy

4. Recognize that power is a critical element in government. Constantly work to understand power dynamics and people’s agendas.

5. Deeply value subject matter experts understanding that as Designers, we are not subject matter experts but are here to play a critical role while learning from and having subject matter experts guide the work

Federico’s Design Tools Referenced.

In the podcast episode, Federico refers to a few design or design-adjacent tools that he sees as critical to being a designer in the civic sector. Of note, many tools we use as Designers pull from many disciplines, including political science and community organizing.

  1. Ask Why

    Literally ask why and ask to ensure everyone understands what is being said to ensure clarity amongst parties

  2. Power Mapping

  3. Stakeholder Mapping

  4. Service Blueprint

More Resources!

1. ⁠Sparking & sustaining governance innovation with reform-minded teams⁠ by Carlos Centeno and Seongkyul Park (MIT GOV/LAB)

2. ⁠Building a minimum viable product with lean governance innovation design⁠ by Federico Vaz

3. ⁠Introducing design for public sector innovation in Nigeria’s federal government⁠ by Federico Vaz

4. ⁠‘Design for policy’ from below: grassroots framing and political negotiation⁠ by Federico Vaz, Mikko Koria & Sharon Prendeville

5. ⁠Design and Policy Network ⁠ led by Principal Investigator: Professor Lucy Kimbell, Professor of Contemporary Design Practices, UAL and Co-Principal Investigator Professor Liz Richardson, Professor of Public Administration, Department of Politics, Manchester University

6. ⁠When design meets power: design thinking, public sector innovation and the politics of policymaking⁠ by Jenny M Lewis, Michael McGann, and Emma Blomkamp

7. ⁠Why Do Service Designers Struggle to Address Power Dynamics? ⁠ by Audun Formo Hay, Josina Vink, Dagfinn Mørkrid Thøgersen, and Mari Suoheimo