Public trust isn’t earned through press releases or polished plans—it’s built through honest communication, meaningful engagement, and consistent follow-through. For mayors navigating public pressure and limited capacity, trust isn’t just a goal. It’s the foundation.

Anti-ego design isn’t about working quietly in the background—it’s about showing up with humility, listening deeply, and co-creating solutions that last. Here’s how to recognize and support designers who put outcomes and communities ahead of ego.

The first Summer Fridays session explored a provocative question: What if implementation was the most creative part of public work? Participants shared stories, challenges, and sparks of possibility—reframing implementation as a space for collaboration, experimentation, and care. Read the full recap and see what’s next in the series.

I started Public Servants LLC to help reimagine how public systems serve people—with care, clarity, and the courage to do things differently.

Public trust isn’t earned at launch, it’s earned in the lead-up. The Trust Signals Scorecard is a free, fast tool for civic leaders to evaluate whether their programs, policies, or communications reinforce public confidence—or unintentionally erode it. Before you publish, pause here.

Learn how government teams can break down silos between product management and design. This post explores common friction points and offers practical strategies for fostering collaboration, improving communication, and driving better outcomes in public service.

Public value shifts the focus from speed and cost to equity, dignity, and impact. This post explores what it means, how to create it, and why it matters in public work.

Trust in public service must be earned, slowly, and through relationship. In a time when confidence in institutions is fragile, this post explores what it really takes to (re)build trust with the communities we serve: presence, consistency, care, and accountability. There are no shortcuts, and the work is worth it.

Lived experience isn’t anecdotal, it’s essential. Learn how civic teams can honor it as a form of expertise and design more accountable public systems.