Technology is rapidly changing the way our society functions, and it has the potential to strengthen public institutions and create pathways for civic participation. Yet too often, technology is developed only for the sake of progress or in the name of innovation without a clear need or a thoughtful approach for how to best design the tools.
Civic technology is an interdisciplinary field at the intersection of tech, policy and human centered design with public impact at its core. It explores how people, digital tools, data and platforms can foster a more equitable, transparent and accountable civic society. Human-centered design processes engage users throughout development to create intuitive and accessible products and services. Washington State is uniquely positioned to develop civic technology, and the University of Washington is a world leader in these interdisciplinary research areas, leading tech collaborations for thoughtful and sustainable innovation in service to the public good.
We will develop civic technology infrastructure that fosters democratic participation, increases government transparency and supports education across K-12, higher education institutions and the broader public. By aligning the UW’s expertise and resources in civic technology, we can advance transparent, equitable governance and civic engagement across Washington State.
Impact in action
The University of Washington has a number of current programs that invest in building and scaling civic technology infrastructure.
Civic by Design
Civic by Design – a new civic technology learning series in partnership with the Provost’s Office – provides many opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and the general public to explore the important field of civic technology. Through talks, practice, course-learning and artist fellowships, Civic by Design illuminates the many ways that artists, designers, technologists, educators, civic innovators and industry leaders engage in creative practice to shape our society. The series aims to elevate the expectations that public leaders use appropriate and cutting-edge technology to provide high-level public services, building trust in institutions and increasing civic health.
There are many opportunities to engage in Civic by Design:
Join us for a series of lectures and conversations highlighting the components of civic technology: art and human-centered design, public service and digital platforms and emerging technologies:
- October 5: Society + Technology @ UW presents After Hours: How Do You Know What To Believe? at Lonely Siren
- October 7: UW Impact + Center for an Informed Public present Rumors and Realities of Voting in Washington online
- October 8: UW Bothell presents Chatbot Shmatbot: AI Isn’t Just a Product with Noah Smith at Mobius Hall, UW Bothell
- October 14: UW Office of Public Lectures presents: A Conversation with Paola Ramos at Town Hall
- November 12: UW Civic Health Initiative presents: Peter Levine discussing his book What Should We Do? A Theory of Civic Life at Kane Hall, UW Seattle
Students can participate in full-day design workshops supported by staff, faculty and industry mentors working collaboratively to create solutions to a civic technology challenge:
- October 30: UW Civic Health Initiative + UW Human Centered Design & Engineering present a Design Jam on elections and youth participation.
Students can expand their learning about civic technology through a variety of courses offered across the University of Washington:
Computer Science & Engineering
- CSE 163: Intermediate Data Programming
- CSE 415: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
- CSE 473: Artificial Intelligence
- CSE 480: Computer Ethics Seminar
- CSE 564: Computer Security and Privacy
- CSE 580: Computing for Social Good
Art + Art History + Design
- DESIGN 316: Introduction to Industrial Design
- DESIGN 383: Foundations of Interaction Design
- DESIGN 478: Information Design
Human Centered Design & Engineering
- HCDE 302: Foundations of Human Centered Design 1
- HCDE 501: Theoretical Foundations of Human Centered Design and Engineering
- HCDE 560: Foundations of Human Centered Artificial Intelligence
Information
- IMT 521: Artificial Intelligence Foundations
- INFO 110: AI: Foundations and Society
- INFO 351: Information Ethics and Policy
- INFO 353: Indigenous Ways of Knowing in the Digital World
- INFO 354: Data Justice
- INFO 355: Information Policy Design
- INFO 464: Value Sensitive Design
Public Policy & Governance
- PUBPOL 499/599: Civic Technology
Three student artists will learn about civic technology through the speaker series, charrettes and in the classroom, participate in dialogue and sensemaking sessions, and produce an original artwork reflecting their experience. More information on applications is coming soon! Please contact Keala Aronowitz at keala@uw.edu with questions.
Other UW programs
Other UW programs that invest in building and scaling civic technology infrastructure include, but are not limited to, the following:
Design. Use. Build. (DUB)
Collaborating around the interaction of design, people, and technology.
eScience Institute
Partnering across the university to transform research.