Design State: A weblog about government web design

I just completed my submission for the National Design Policy Council’s video campaign. I figured that it would be helpful to explain the importance of design to non-designers through the use of practical examples. Here are the questions I answered:

1. What role does design play in US economic competitiveness?
2. What role does design play in the US democratic governance?
3. In what specific ways, would a national design policy further enable design to play those roles?
4. What would you pledge to do to help design play that role?

Here’s the video:

I created a separate page for this little project so that when this post rolls off the front page, the information will still be easy to find.

There is now a U.S. National Design Policy Initiative. It started off in early January, and you can download their policy proposals, a report from their 2008 Summit, and presentations from the same.

If you feel that this is a good idea, you should leave an endorsement. Here’s what I wrote:

My name is Adam Harvey. As a public sector web designer living in Cleveland, Ohio, I have often had the opportunity to see how local and regional governments look to the federal system and its benchmarks and standards for guidance.

Because there is a great need for design standards and mentoring in public sector design, I fully endorse the mission of the U.S. National Design Policy Initiative.

I believe that good design can facilitate the interactions between citizens and their government, that good design can enhance the communicability of important information, and that good design can set a standard of quality and professionalism that will increase confidence in our government.

My Senators are George Voinovich and Sherrod Brown, and my representative is Marcia L. Fudge for Ohio District 11.

Keep up the good work!