Public-centered design is the discipline of shaping public services, policies, and operations around the needs and lived experiences of the people they affect—while strengthening trust, equity, and long-term public value. This glossary entry defines the term, explains its benefits, and outlines how organizations can apply it to improve outcomes for communities and public servants alike.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Public servants do the quiet, essential work that keeps government moving. This post explores their roles, challenges, and why supporting them is key to public trust.

Public servants are more than job titles, they're the people who keep public systems working with care and commitment. In this post, we define the term and reclaim its meaning for today.

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.