Meet the Spring 2026 Public Servants interns—a set of emerging designers, writers, and researchers exploring public service as a lived, ethical practice. In their own words, they share what draws them to civic work and what they hope to build this season.

In our first year, Public Servants focused on building quietly alongside public teams. This reflection looks back on the work, the lessons, and the foundations that shaped our approach to public-centered design in 2025.

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.

Employee Experience (EX) reflects what it feels like to work inside public institutions—from the tools and training staff rely on to the culture, policies, and leadership they navigate. When EX is strong, employees are empowered to serve residents with clarity and care. When it frays, burnout, turnover, and system breakdowns follow. Supporting EX means supporting every other strand of the public experience.

Policies are more than legal documents—they’re cultural artifacts. At Public Servants, we design ours as promises: rooted in trust, care, and accountability, and built to grow with the people they serve.

We built the Fit Snapshot to help us make thoughtful, values-aligned decisions about who we work with. This post offers a transparent look at how we assess potential partners—not to judge, but to make sure we can show up with care, clarity, and integrity.