Emerging creatives have an essential role to play in shaping public systems. Public Servants’ Spring 2026 creative and civic practice internship is a paid, part-time, remote contract role offering space for early-career creatives to contribute to real projects in design, storytelling, and public-interest work. Applications are now open.

AI is reshaping public systems, but not everyone benefits equally. This piece explores how long-standing power patterns reappear in AI—and what public leaders can do to ensure innovation strengthens, rather than erodes, public trust.

Post-election periods can create pressure to act fast, but urgency alone rarely leads to better outcomes. What public-sector teams need most in this moment is alignment—clarity on priorities, roles, workflows, and the public experience they aim to protect. This piece explores how governments can move from reaction to coordinated, people-centered action in the early months after an election.

What does it take to earn public trust? In this short explainer, Ashleigh Axios breaks down the ethical obligations of public servants, why structure protects the public, and how trust is built through daily choices.

The Experience Tapestry™ weaves together ten strands of how people encounter public systems—from individual interactions like user experience to systemic forces like environmental impacts. This framework helps leaders see not just isolated touchpoints, but the connections between them that shape trust, dignity, and resilience in public life.

Environmental Experience (EnX) highlights how the design of public systems impacts the natural world—and in turn, people’s health, safety, and quality of life. From waste management and emissions to biodiversity and transit choices, EnX connects civic design to planetary stewardship. Designing for EnX means designing not only for today’s residents, but for future generations who will live with the outcomes.

Civic Experience (CivX) is about how people and communities engage with democracy—from voting and hearings to public comment, councils, and collective decision-making. Strong CivX fosters belonging and legitimacy, showing residents their voices matter. Weak CivX erodes trust, participation, and the sense of shared ownership in public systems.

Life Journey Experience (LJX) focuses on how services connect to the major milestones and transitions people encounter—from birth certificates and school enrollment to retirement benefits. Effective LJX ensures public systems anticipate these moments, rather than forcing residents to navigate silos. When designed well, LJX supports people at the moments that matter most, making civic systems feel coherent across a lifetime.

Community Experience (ComX) reflects how groups—not just individuals—interact with and are shaped by public systems. From neighborhood safety to schools, transit, and shared spaces, ComX influences whether communities feel supported or overlooked. Strong ComX fosters belonging and cohesion, while weak ComX deepens divides and distrust. Designing for ComX means designing for resilience across groups.