Our Story
Not a moment—an ongoing movement.
We didn’t arrive. We’ve been here.
Ashleigh Axios began her career in service to people and purpose—supporting early nonprofit initiatives focused on education access, HIV/AIDS relief, and environmental impact. Long before civic tech had a name, she was applying design to challenges faced by mission-driven teams around the world.
“When I was little, my mom brought me to help feed unhoused individuals in Washington, D.C.—and it made a lasting impression. I often think about our unhoused neighbors when the temperatures drop dangerously low or rise unbearably high. As a society, I believe we’re responsible for the most vulnerable among us.”
–Ashleigh Axios
A values-led path, long before civic tech had a name
By 2009, her work began to include U.S. government systems—starting with federal agencies like the Army and the Federal Trade Commission. She joined the Obama White House in his first term—before the Presidential Innovation Fellows, 18F, USDS, or the Lab at OPM were formed—and redefined what it meant for government to show up digitally, accessibly, and transparently.
This wasn’t about fixing a broken site. It was about stewarding a democracy through design.
A government designed to serve everyone
Ashleigh led design efforts behind the first White House mobile website, the first White House apps, and a full responsive redesign of WhiteHouse.gov. She overhauled how government communicated with the public—turning a one-way megaphone into a platform for civic engagement, including the first open-sourced White House petitions system, We the People.
Read the archived post reflecting on two decades of WhiteHouse.gov design evolution.
She led and collaborated on public narratives during moments that mattered—from the Iran Nuclear Deal to the Supreme Court’s decision on same-sex marriage—ensuring the government’s digital presence reflected its best values and made visible the people it represents.
Ashleigh Axios, Founder and CEO of Public Servants LLC
“Public servants hold our democracies together. With the right investment and partnership, we can bring democratic values to life and build systems that serve people with care and integrity.”
Built in public, alongside the public
Government as a collective act of care
Ashleigh didn’t stop at a single administration or role—and wasn’t limited by any political party. Her commitment to public service has always extended beyond the politics of the moment, grounded instead in the belief that government, at its best, is a collective act of care.
She built infrastructure for civic design long before it was a recognized career path. She co-founded DotGov Design and launched its namesake conference, chaired AIGA nationally and locally in Washington DC, and mentored the next generation of civic creatives. She now serves as a trustee at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where she continues to invest in education, equity, and the next generation of civic-minded creatives.
From supporting the Presidential COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force to redesigning critical service platforms across agencies, she’s helped shape not just programs, but the field itself.
Since 2016, she has led remote-first teams across the public and private sectors, building resilient cultures rooted in clarity, flexibility, and shared purpose.
“My career is about making space—for the people doing the work, and for those who come next.”
–Ashleigh Axios
Public Servants is a culmination, not a pivot
Beliefs in action
We started this small business because public institutions deserve partners who’ve walked beside them before the spotlight—and will still be there long after it fades.
Public Servants LLC exists to help public agencies earn trust, build capacity, and deliver lasting outcomes. We bring deep experience in service design, strategy, research, and communications—and we do it with integrity, care, and imagination.
Our clients aren’t just looking for vendors. They’re looking for partners who know how to navigate the nuance, the mess, and the mandate to serve.
“Founding Public Servants was a commitment—to the people I’ve worked alongside for years, and to the belief that public service can be deeply human and deeply effective at the same time. I’ve seen it firsthand. Working together through some of the hardest days is the only way we make lasting progress.”
–Ashleigh Axios
Designing what comes next
Our firm was founded on intention, not reaction.
The act of founding Public Servants in January 2025 is itself a statement of intent. It reflects a commitment to those who came before us, a refusal to be distracted by the chaos of any one moment, and a belief that the future deserves our discipline, imagination, and care. We didn’t start this firm to chase a trend—we started it to do our part, alongside others, in building what comes next. Not just for us, but for those who will take up this work after we’re gone.
We believe the best public outcomes emerge when workers, partners, clients, and communities are all supported to thrive.
The future we’re building depends on that virtuous cycle—and we’re shaping our firm to reflect it.
Public Servants operates as a remote-first (distributed) firm, bringing together collaborators across geographies to support public teams wherever they are—and however they serve.
How we show up
We’re here to design systems that hold. Build teams that endure. And support public servants doing some of the hardest and most necessary work in our democracy.
We’ve been doing this work for decades. Now, we’re doing it together—with you.
Looking ahead
This is just the beginning. We’ll continue to grow this story—alongside our clients, collaborators, and the people we serve.
Want to explore more of Ashleigh’s leadership journey? Visit Ashleighaxios.com
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