We’re kicking off our 2024 DRSelects series with new articles from the convenors of the DRS’ Special Interest Groups. Our first article comes from Scott Schmidt, convenor of the Design for Policy and Governance Special Interest Group (PoGoSIG). Keep reading to learn more about Scott, PoGoSIG and highlights from the DRS Digital Library around design and policy.
Please introduce yourself, your role in the DRS and your research.
My name is Scott Schmidt, and I serve as founding Chair for the Design for Policy and Governance Special Interest Group (PoGoSIG) in the Design Research Society. I am an Adjunct Lecturer at Georgetown University in the Design Management and Communications program. My current research examines the interplay between design, policy, planning and computation.
What is PoGoSIG? Are there any recent or upcoming events you’d like to share?
PoGoSIG aims to bring together researchers, designers and academics to critically examine, promote and explore the effect of design on innovation in policy and governance in an international context. We are always up to quite a bit of activity! Last year, our focus was on leading a track at the International Public Policy Association 6th International Conference on Public Policy. Currently, we are leading a track at the upcoming DRS2024 conference in Boston and waiting to see if several of our workshops have been accepted. We also recently launched a member reading group which keeps up with the latest articles on the subject and host a semiregular podcast, Design for Society.
What are some of the benefits of being involved in the DRS through a SIG? How can those who are interested in becoming part of PoGoSIG learn more?
Being involved in a SIG through DRS brings you closer to a niche community of individuals interested in the same thing as you which helps with collaboration. When you work in a particular area you tend to bump into many of the same individuals repeatedly and the SIG helps formalize those relationships. Also, most importantly, involvement in a SIG allows a direct path for individuals with new ideas to join in on the conversation. We are always welcoming new members and encourage anyone interested to get in touch at PoGoSIG.DRS@gmail.com to be added to our mailing list and get involved.
Please choose five items from the DRS Digital Library that you'd like to highlight.
The DRS Digital Library is an incredible resource for researchers, practitioners, and teachers. I use it often in my classes with students who are just becoming familiar with design research to find entry level articles and then progress to more foundational articles. There really is something for everyone! Choosing only five items from the library is difficult, as there are so many that should be highlighted. However, in anticipation of our PoGoSIG theme track at the upcoming DRS2024, I narrowed down the list to a brief survey of mostly recent DRS Biennial Conference Series articles that highlight the growing relationship between design and policy.
Design for public policy: Embracing uncertainty and hybridity in mapping future research (Published 06/2022)
Authors: Lucy Kimbell, Liz Richardson, Ramia Mazé, Catherine Durose
In this paper, the authors, leading voices in the field, assess the potential of ‘design for policy’ while also mapping out key areas of recent debate. This is a good place to start if you are new to the field. Be sure to also check out their equally excellent final report on the Design and Policy Network.
On the importance of an enlarged ‘design for policy’ framework within the public policy cycle (Published 06/2022)
Authors: Rui Monteiro, Bruno Giesteira, Anne Boddington, Cristina Farinha
Written by a great team of authors, this paper examines foundational elements related to the public policy cycle. It is a solid example of how key features of public policy studies can be viewed through the lens of design studies.
Design for Policy and Governance: New Technologies, New Methodologies (Published 06/2022)
Authors: Marzia Mortati, Scott Schmidt, Louise Mullagh
This paper is a product of PoGoSIG and in many ways connected to our 2022 Special Issue on the international practice of design for policy. The paper gives an overview of topics presented in our theme track on policy and design at DRS2022.
Design prototyping for policymaking (Published 08/2020)
Authors: Diana Pamela Villa Alvarez, Valentina Auricchio, Marzia Mortati
This group of authors has written a number of excellent papers on the subject within the conference series, so I suggest taking a look at all of them. This one recognises the value of prototyping as an instrument for policy development.
The introduction of design to policymaking: Policy Lab and the UK government (Published 06/2016)
Authors: Jocelyn Bailey, Peter Lloyd
Again, authored by two great voices, this paper is a bit older than the rest but can be seen as foundational in its examination of the relationship between policy and design.