Last week’s Public Service Recognition Week comes on the heels of immense upheaval to the public service and civic design landscape in the United States. The effects of a federal government turning away from the values of public service means that civic workers and designers of all stripes are rapidly being pushed out of government.

The new administration’s efforts to reduce civic infrastructure and send dedicated public servants home has been felt far and wide – including right here in the District. As the Civic Design Chair for AIGA DC’s DotGov Design initiative, I’ve talked with civic designers freshly out of a job, folks still currently employed but afraid for their next email, and recent graduates who wanted to enter this field but are now unsure where to take their skills and values next.

At this moment, I’m conscious that folks are looking for lots of things – but one thing I hope to offer is the reminder about why Public Service Recognition Week was originally created, and why civic designers and changemakers are still so important right now. So I asked a few folks with a really deep (and varied) understanding of civic design to share their thoughts of encouragement and inspiration for our community.

I hope these (lightly edited) words meet you where you are, and help get you closer to where you need.

“Why is public service so important at this moment?”

Ron Bronson
Former Head of Design at 18F.gov | Incoming Assistant Professor of Practice at University of Michigan | President, AIGA Portland 

“Social trust is infrastructure. When it breaks down, systems break too. Public service isn’t just about delivery. It’s about showing up for people whose lives may be nothing like your own.

I’ve worked in both small local government and at the federal level. It’s rewarding to solve problems that disappear when the system works. The scale is different but the stakes are real. Communities rely on services we support and that makes the work more urgent than ever.”

Ashleigh Axios
Former White House Creative Director | Former AIGA National President and Chair of the Board of Directors | Co-founder of AIGA DC’s DotGov Design Initiative

“Public service is always essential —  but especially when it’s under strain. When trust is low, systems are stretched thin, and progress feels out of reach, that’s when service grounded in integrity, courage, and care matters most. This isn’t the moment to turn away — it’s the moment to dig in.

True public service is an act of care. It’s the resolve to keep showing up — for people, for communities, for a future that’s more just and more humane. It’s not always loud or visible, but it’s how democracy lives — in the systems we build, the access we fight for, and the trust we earn. Especially now, this kind of service reminds us what’s still possible.”

Robyn Klem
Director, Visual Design & Strategy, The Clearing

“Civic design is how we bring empathy into the everyday experiences of government. It’s the bridge between policy and people — ensuring that services aren’t just delivered, but actually work for those who need them most.

Civic design isn’t just about making things look better — it’s about making systems work better for the people they serve. As demands on public services grow and people face limited time, energy, and resources, every thoughtfully designed experience is a step toward connection, accessibility, and understanding.”

“How can civic designers make a difference right now?”

Ashleigh Axios
Former White House Creative Director | Former AIGA National President and Chair of the Board of Directors | Co-founder of AIGA DC’s DotGov Design Initiative

“Civic designers help protect and strengthen democracy through steady, values-driven work. By making services more accessible, creating space for communities to be heard and contribute, and shaping systems with care, we help ensure public institutions truly serve the public. Especially now — when public service is being scapegoated — carrying forward the true work of civic design wherever we can is critical.“

Arianne Miller
Former Managing Director, The Lab at U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

My first thought went toward what is needed to mitigate and navigate the increased fragmentation and duplication that comes as the work of designers/design teams working in at the local and state government levels increase in both scale and scope. So much of the work of design is to make sense of duplication – where it is (or could be) helpful, where it is (or could be) harmful, and how to move forward given that.

And so, one critical way that civic designers can make a difference right now is to lean in to sharing what they have made and have access to that can help other teams doing similar work. (Whether it can be shared publicly or needs a warm gov-to-gov hand off, as is so often the case given the painful challenges of gaining approval for public release.)

Doing that will:

• Accelerate those new efforts;
• Make them more rigorous and robust;
• Focus lean resources on tailoring and extending existing work to new contexts (rather than recreating what could be re-used); and
• Build the community and mutually-supportive relationships critical to sustaining this work in the long run.

The good folks at 18f.org are doing this really well. Check out their Guides section – and then keep digging. 

Looking to reach out re: civic design or DotGov? Send a note to dotgov@dc.aiga.org.