Expanding Design’s Role in the Governance Paradigms of Democracy

Design is increasingly recognized as a key agent in government innovation in the United States. Designers, as problem framers and catalysts for change, play a crucial role in transforming the functionality and accessibility of government systems and processes. However, this role is often narrowly defined, typically focusing on the improvement of digital services, especially through User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI) approaches within digital government spaces.While these contributions are valuable, they represent only a fraction of the potential for design methodologies to foster more participatory, accessible, and effective governance structures. As design becomes more embedded as a strategy for innovation at the national, state, and local levels, the broader contributions of designers, beyond digital services, require deeper articulation and categorization. This paper explores how design is reshaping governance systems in the U.S. at local, state, and national levels, with a focus on non-digital applications that leverage design strategies and methods to address systemic challenges within government structures.