Digital Commons Network^™

Applying Design-Led Approaches To Public Sector Innovation: A Case Study Of New Zealand’S Service Innovation Lab, Jane Lehtinen

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This paper adds to emerging research on the application of design-led approaches to public policy and services by public sector innovation labs. It presents key findings from the first in-depth case study on the New Zealand government Service Innovation Lab, which operated between 2017 and 2020 as part of broader public sector efforts for citizen-centric digital transformation. Based on a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews and organizational documentation, it discusses how the challenges of applying the Lab’s design-led approach in this public sector context were navigated by professionals involved with the Lab over time. The findings reveal that to navigate …

Co-Designing Public Value: Collective Ownership Of Outcomes In The Public Sphere, Jez Bebbington, Leon Cruickshank, Niall Hayes

DRS Biennial Conference Series

Design principles and practices have contributed substantially to the discipline of public management, particularly over the last decade. Service design, design for policy, and design for social innovation demonstrate the increasing degree of convergence between design and public management. This paper considers the concept of ‘creating public value’, at a strategic level beyond specific policies and services, from a co-design perspective. The paper explores opportunities for co-design principles and methods to contribute to the creation of public value - via policy design and enactment - through the examination of public value and co-design literature. Implications for co-designers and policymakers are …

We Just Need To Pee: Bathroom Bills And The Intersection Of Human Rights, Gender, And Race, Lena Tenney

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

Although rarely publicly discussed, bathrooms are a fundamental element of everyday life. In fact, the majority of the population does not question their right or ability to access public restroom facilities because they are a mundane aspect of daily routine. However, the recent rise of “bathroom bills” in state legislatures has sparked significant media coverage and highlighted activist movements seeking to guarantee safe, affirming, and legally protected access to bathrooms for people of all gender identities and expressions.

This paper will illustrate that bathroom access is not only a matter of public policy, but also a question of human rights. …

Integrating Sustainability With A Regional Design Sector, Simon O'Rafferty

Nordes Conference Series

Recent developments in European design policy are strengthening the links between design and sustainable development. Therefore, it increasingly important to understand evolving perspectives on sustainability and develop new approaches to building competencies amongst designers so they are in a position to respond and remain relevant. The potential mix of competencies is diverse and is challenging traditional perspectives on the role of the designer. This article discusses interventions to build sustainable competencies in the design sector. It does this by presenting some insights from the early stages of developing a knowledge exchange programme in a region that has no existing programmes …