Civic design is a design practice that focuses on creating solutions to issues affecting our public sphere. It involves the use of design methods and principles to address complex and often wicked problems that affect communities and society as a whole. It may involve the design of public spaces, the development of affordable housing and community facilities, the redesign of hard and soft infrastructure to be more accessible and sustainable, and the creation of visual communication tools that inform and engage citizens in public decision-making processes.

In projects involve government, public policy, or community engagement we may choose to use the term ‘citizen’ to emphasize the role of the individual as a member of a larger community or society, rather than simply as a user of a product or service.

I prefer use ‘citizen’ in general instead of ‘user’ as this way I remind myself that my role is not just about creating products, services, or places – it's about empowering citizens to shape the future of their communities. By using the term ‘citizens’ instead of ‘users’, I hope to foster a sense of shared responsibility and collaboration between designers and the public. It is a small and symbolic gesture to break the culture of consumption in relation to public and third-sector services - as a tiny exit from the all-pervading logic of consumption-production.