Policy as Designed: MindLab





Seminar and reception during London Design Festival

Monday 17th September, Embassy of Denmark



Keynote
  • Christian Bason, Director of Innovation at Mindlab
Panel members
  • Jill Rutter of the Institute for Government; Lucy Kimbell of the Young Foundation; Aviv Katz of the Innovation Unit; Ailbhe McNabola of the Design Council; and Richard Harries of the Department for Communities Local Government.
Discussion Summary
Christian’s presentation addressed a number of issues of particular relevance to public services and policy making in UK. These were fleshed out with several examples of Mindlab’s work in Denmark. If you would like an audio file of the talk from please contact joe.julier@policyconnect.org.uk

Christian outlined four imperatives for adopting a design approach to public services and policy development. These were:
  • Increased pressure on public service budgets as government look to tackle public sector debt levels. This means cuts between 10 -40% or removing a service entirely. Responding to this requires an entirely different approach to incremental budget reductions of 2% a year, simply carrying on is no longer an option, instead reorganisation or redesign becomes a necessity.
  • Services coming under increasing pressure as the result external factors such as an aging population, greater demand for meaningful services, lifestyle diseases, and the increasing cost of new technology.
  • The challenge of taking a policy from idea to implementation. An idea might be in use somewhere already, or the problem might involve complex societal and behavioural issues which might not be ‘solvable’. How can we address this complexity rather than simply ignoring it and developing a policy as if there is a ‘ground zero’ to implement it from?
  • A design approach can promote our values and democracy further. By working with citizens, services can become more transparent, empowering and gain greater legitimacy. Whilst this is an end in itself achieving these aims is interconnected with other outcomes such as increased savings.
How can design address these issues?

First a working definition of design is needed. As a baseline Christian suggested we see design as about ‘changing the current situation into one which is better’. Although this definition may seem broad, it was highlighted by members of the panel that this definition has an important implication; it makes clear that we are often designing without realising and therefore doing it amateurishly. Within Mindlab Christian highlighted four key elements which make up a design conscious approach in addressing the issues outlined above:
  • Start with the service users, ‘the moment of truth for any government policy is the moment someone engages with it’. This mean getting close to users, learning their names, conducting ethnographic research and listening to their experiences.
  • Take a ‘double sided’ approach to ethnography. This means examining the system of provision, as well as the service users. If you can understand culture, practices, procedures, performance metrics, contracts involved in service delivery you can develop a policy which is responsive to this.
  • Use visual as well as textual methods for developing a policy. This is effective in a policy setting which is often very text heavy. Workshops and design methods can provide a more effective way of getting the best info out of people/ leveraging the knowledge in the room.
  • Make room to test and prototype the policy idea. Unlike pilots which may be politically charged and therefore unable to fail, prototypes offer the opportunity for things to go wrong and ideas to be refined.

About MindLab
MindLab is a cross-ministerial innovation unit, based in Copenhagen, which involves citizens and businesses in creating new solutions for Danish society. Its methodologies are anchored in design-centred thinking, qualitative research and policy development, with the aim of including the reality experienced by both the public and businesses into the development of new public-sector solutions. This seminar is an opportunity to engage and learn from the international audience in London during LDF, bring a policy focus to the LDF programme, and engage UK policymakers not normally involved with the LDF. 
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