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Created by the Public Governance Directorate

This website was created by the OECD Observatory of Public Sector Innovation (OPSI), part of the OECD Public Governance Directorate (GOV).

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Validation that this is an official OECD website can be found on the Innovative Government page of the corporate OECD website.

This resource was designed to empower everyone to take a human-centred design approach. It was designed specifically for the Queensland Government in Australia but is valuable for anyone interested building an understanding of human centred design and how they can use it. The resource includes sections What is BCD, Why do HCD, and How to do HCD, each with detailed guidance and instructions. The website also includes detailed operational support guidance for procuring human-centred design work,…
Toolkit

Smart Cities Made Human Playbook

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Editable source files available
This playbook defines smart cities through human experiences, including 3 "mindsets" (lenses to understand) and 6 "plays" (ways to start). Originally developed for the City of Calgary, Canada, it offers ways to document, prioritize and advocate for individual human experiences at the nexus of networked technology, data and urbanism. It promotes embracing complexity and designing responsive systems, policies and governance around people for people-centered smart cities. Both PDF and slide deck…
Toolkit

Inclusive Design Cards

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Editable source files available
Inclusive design is designing for the full range of human diversity in ability, language, income, culture, gender, age and other characteristics. This toolkit includes a series of cards to use early in a design process to help sketch, plan, prototype and design content, interactions and processes. It covers inclusive physical, audio, visual, and thought experiences. PDF and editable Word document available via the publisher's Github page.
The resource was designed to help organisations: develop a clearer understanding of the range of purposes of collaborations, reflect on the partnerships they have established, and focus on ways to strengthen new and existing partnerships by engaging in discussion about issues and ways forward. The resource contains guidance as well as an interactive partnership assessment tool. Although it was created with the health sector in mind, it is relevant for other sectors as well. For innovation…
Toolkit

Service Design Playbook

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Editable source files available
This playbook is an online crash course on service design. It works alongside the 14 points set out in the Digital Service Standard to provide the basics needed to get started on a digital service. It covers: About service design, Discovery phase, Alpha phase, Beta phase, Live phase, and Team roles
Toolkit

Danish Design Centre’s Innovation Tools

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Here you find a selection of the Danish Design Centre’s commonly used tools. It includes information about the methods, instructions for tool use, and printable materials. The tools are divided in three categories that are used at different stages in the design process - and often in this order: Explore, Co-create, and Give the future concrete form. Explore helps the participants to open up and get around all aspects of the issue. Co-create contains tools that help participants get in-depth…
Toolkit

A Rough Guide to the Shift Surrey Approach

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The Shift Surrey guide provides an overview of Surrey's design approach to date, including a summary of projects and suggestions for building an internal community of practice inside government. At the end of the guide, there are several typical design tools, tips and tricks learned through Surrey's experience and suggestions for related design resources.
Toolkit

The Service Design Playbook

This resource describes a comprehensive method for the BC Public Service (BCPS) to design services for British Columbians, although it is also applicable to other governments. The Playbook is intended to help ensure public service designers have the necessary tools and corporate support to make change. It includes an overview of service design, a discussion of when and how to use it, as well as detailed guidance and tools for the various methods used in service design. The methods are organised…
Toolkit

Austin Center for Design Library

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Can be remixed
This resource contains tools around specific design methods and techniques, including facilitation, ideation, and synthesis. Some contain step-by-step guidance and guidance on the method while others are standalone canvases/worksheets.
Toolkit

Your Guide to Workplace Innovation

This short guide aims to take a practical approach toward workplace innovation. It includes practical knowledge, case studies, self-assessment, and suggested pathways to change, as well as further sources of information and support. It is based around four elements: Empowering jobs and self-managed teams. Flexible organisational structures, people-centred management practices and streamlined systems and procedures based on trust. Systematic opportunities for employee-driven improvement and…