Design workshop - the role and influence of design in mainstream policy making

Can design help us make better policy and, as a consequence, improve the capacity of democracy to “deliver”?
In this workshop, we will explore the relationship between design, better policy making and the quality of our democracy.
We’re going to start from the assumption that there is a relationship, and that it is positive – design for better policy is design for a better democracy. We need to understand better what design can do, and what design can’t do, to improve the quality of policy making and therefore of the democracy it serves.
We’ll focus on a mainstream policy task and answer three questions:
- How would you approach the policy task as a design exercise?
- How different would a design approach be to a traditional approach?
- What helps or hinders the wider use of design methods and mindsets in policy making?
Rounding off the session will be an open forum discussion on the impact of better policy through design for the quality and effectiveness of our democracy.
Speakers
Martin Stewart-Weeks
A strategic thinker, organisational consultant, facilitator and writer, Martin’s work as an advisor draws on over 30 years' experience spanning government, the "for purpose" or social sector and the corporate sector. His wor...
Chris Vanstone
Chris leads innovation across TACSI, our projects and start-ups. He started his career as a product designer, designing biscuits, cameras and razors, but has spent the last 14 years working with interdisciplinary teams and c...
Dominic Campbell
Dominic Campbell is a digital government entrepreneur with a background in government policy and technology-led change. He is an experienced in organisation and service re-design and has senior management experience in imple...
Prof. Sam Bucolo
Until August 2017, Sam was Professor of Design and Innovation, University of Technology, Sydney, before which he held a similar position at Queensland University of Technology. He is the convenor of the recently established ...