stories
stories of change in action
Join the conversation: explore institutions serving people in positive ways, dive into dialogues with brave leaders, and see behind the scenes of Civilla's own projects.
Designing for Beauty in Public Services
Integrating thoughtful design into government
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Creating the conditions for co-design to thrive
How the Colorado Digital Service is building operational and emotional infrastructure for human-centered design
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building a one-day benefits process in Michigan
thinking big with Project One Day
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“i’m proud of all of it”
Amy Hundley shares the wisdom she’s gained about how to adapt and lead durable culture change.
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how to lead in times of change
A guide for public sector leaders
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The state of human-centered design
4 challenges to scaling human-centered design in government today
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Civilla welcomes a new CEO
A Q&A with Michael Brennan and incoming CEO Julia Dale
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A better way to track your benefits
Designing the country’s first benefits application tracker
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The Paradox of Certainty
Why effective leaders embrace “I don’t know"
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Rebuilding trust through human-centered design
How UIA and Civilla are revitalizing unemployment delivery in Michigan
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The Power of Small
How leaders can focus on small steps that lead to lasting change in public institutions
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AI for social good
How the City of Boston uses AI to serve its residents
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A billion page views, one thing in common
How the U.S. Web Design System helps teams across the federal government scale their impact
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“We have a real opportunity to move government into the digital age”
Robin Carnahan shares how to bring a human-centered design mindset across government agencies
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How storytelling makes change possible at the IRS
Designing a better taxpayer experience through data and user stories
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Mastering the craft of correspondence
Designing mail correspondence that builds trust and inspires action
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“Show up as yourself from day one”
Raquel Hatter shares lessons from 30 years of leadership
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Scaling impact through incremental change
Lowering the cost of living in one of the world’s most expensive cities
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Designing for trust
How taking creative risks can improve the relationship between institutions and the public
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Making civic participation accessible for all
How the Center for Civic Design is improving the voting process through design
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Creating space for dream projects
Making an impact beyond fires and funding requirements
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More than a bike path
How Detroit’s Joe Louis Greenway is bringing community members and city officials together to revitalize their city
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Storytelling on 1 square inch
How citizen voices shape the Postal Service stamp program
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"Why Don’t We Try a Virtual Reality Simulation?”
Kevin Jones shares his experience in using technology to dramatically reduce staff turnover in the child welfare system
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Better technology, by design
Transforming the way digital services are built in government through human-centered design
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"You can use bureaucracy to fight bureaucracy”
Marina Nitze shares what she’s learned about hacking bureaucracy
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"You Have To Be Willing To Get Uncomfortable"
Julia Dale shares what she’s learned about leading through times of crisis
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Cutting through bureaucracy
Antonia Jiménez shares what she’s learned about understanding data through the human stories behind it and challenging bureaucracy where others might shy away
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Using Tech to Streamline Child Support
How Georgia uses technology to ease the burden of child support on families and local offices
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“If We’re Laser-Focused, We Can Achieve Anything”
Paving the way for the City of Detroit and beyond, Joshua Edmonds shares what he’s learned about community, collaboration, and executing no matter what
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Names, Not Numbers
A human-centered approach to tackling homelessness in Rockford
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Small Changes, Big Impact
How starting small helped improve the public benefits renewal system in Michigan
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Making the Case for Change
The unlikely story of how Civilla came to partner with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
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Responding Quickly in Times of Crisis
How Michigan harnessed existing infrastructure to get food on the table faster for families in need during COVID-19
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"You Can't Learn By Sitting In Your Chair"
After 38 years in public service, Terry Beurer shares what he’s learned about frontline leadership, user voices, and humbling experiences
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The Road to Rollout
Designing the path from idea to implementation at scale
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