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Rhonda Geraghty, Ontario College of Art and Design University, CanadaAbstract
Design has expanded significantly in recent decades, moving beyond its traditional disciplinary boundaries to function as an important capability within government. Around the world, governments now draw on design as a set of practices, methods, tools, mindsets and abilities to address complex challenges. Yet despite its growing presence, design remains inconsistently understood and unevenly applied in public-sector contexts. A central barrier is the absence of a shared definition that captures its scope, purpose, and relevance for work in the public sector. Without common language, efforts to integrate design across jurisdictions and between sectors remains fragmented, limiting its potential and impact. This paper proposes a definition of design specifically articulated for use within the context of government. The study conducts a focused review of design-in-government literature, examining the terms design, capability and government to identify the range of interpretations and limits present in current discourse. It also analyzes the multiple meanings of design - as both noun and verb - in design theory and practice to clarify its identity and scope as capability in this context. Through comparative analysis, classification, and synthesis, the paper develops a working definition of design tailored to public sector contexts. The resulting conceptualization offers a foundation for a more coherent, strategic and equitable application of design within government. It contributes to a broader ontological inquiry into design in government, advancing theoretical grounding for an emerging interdisciplinary field while supporting practitioners, researchers, and educators seeking to strengthen public sector innovation.
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Conference: PCAH2026Stream: Aesthetics and Design
This paper is part of the PCAH2026 Conference Proceedings (View)
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