WHAT IS CIVIC DESIGN? Civic Design is a practice that focuses on the common good outcomes of our communities by pulling upon all of the institutional tools in our communities, beyond our traditional sole focus on government alone. Regulating our communities into better health and prosperity, writ large, is more than passing laws and warring over angry left vs. right politics. We simply cannot afford that type of narrow thinking anymore, and that is more than a mere financial commentary. We simply cannot afford to be that uncreative in these historically dynamic times. NOT LEFT. NOT RIGHT. FORWARD. Civic design acknowledges that the most pressing issues facing our communities are full of complexity and lie beyond the capabilities of any one institutional form. Institutions such as governments, businesses, non-profits and non-governmental organizations are all purpose built to excel at certain goals and none of them are designed to do everything well. It is only when we weave those tools together that we gain the capacity to sustain forward movement. THE WHOLE TOOLBOX. Civic Design is practiced with the understanding that without exception, our societal challenges are not problems to be solved, but rather a series of dilemmas to be better managed. When we think we have “fixed” something we not only delude ourselves to the ever-changing nature of our society but we affix political dogma to our particular approaches. The only dogma that Civic Design respects is a continued focus on the following outcomes for our communities: ▪ Safety ▪ Good Health ▪ Productivity ▪ Innovation and Creativity ▪ Infrastructure Preserved and Constructed ▪ Passage of Knowledge and Wisdom ▪ Justice and Morality ▪ Optimism and Happiness Civic Design weaves by aligning our institutional tools rather than positions them as adversaries. It is practiced with this adage always in mind: NO ONE SUCCEEDS IN A FAILING WORLD.

1. WHAT IS CIVIC DESIGN?
Civic Design is a practice that focuses on the common good outcomes
of our communities by pulling upon all of the institutional tools in our
communities, beyond our traditional sole focus on government alone.
Regulating our communities into better health and prosperity, writ
large, is more than passing laws and warring over angry left vs. right
politics. We simply cannot afford that type of narrow thinking
anymore, and that is more than a mere financial commentary. We
simply cannot afford to be that uncreative in these historically
dynamic times.
NOT LEFT. NOT RIGHT. FORWARD.
Civic design acknowledges that the most pressing issues facing our
communities are full of complexity and lie beyond the capabilities of
any one institutional form. Institutions such as governments,
businesses, non-profits and non-governmental organizations are all
purpose built to excel at certain goals and none of them are designed
to do everything well. It is only when we weave those tools together
that we gain the capacity to sustain forward movement.
THE WHOLE TOOLBOX.
Civic Design is practiced with the understanding that without
exception, our societal challenges are not problems to be solved, but
rather a series of dilemmas to be better managed. When we think we
have “fixed” something we not only delude ourselves to the ever-
changing nature of our society but we affix political dogma to our
particular approaches. The only dogma that Civic Design respects is a
continued focus on the following outcomes for our communities:

2. ▪ Safety
▪ Good Health
▪ Productivity
▪ Innovation and Creativity
▪ Infrastructure Preserved and Constructed
▪ Passage of Knowledge and Wisdom
▪ Justice and Morality
▪ Optimism and Happiness
Civic Design weaves by aligning our institutional tools rather than
positions them as adversaries. It is practiced with this adage always in
mind:
NO ONE SUCCEEDS IN A FAILING WORLD.