Media

Design in the Civic Space: Generating Impact in City Government

Ascendant CEO Stephanie Wade co-authored a paper with Jon Freach to explore the growth and impact of using design in city government as well as the best practices in introducing it to city hall to tackle complex civic sector challenges.

Design Thinking for the Public Sector

In this Design Thinking 101 podcast, by Dawan Stanford, Ascendant CEO Stephanie Wade discusses how she helps cities around the world develop and implement innovative approaches by using design, data analytics, and behavioral economics to deeply understand complex problems.

Building a Culture of Innovation What Works?

Ascendant CEO Stephanie Wade leads an interactive debate about what works and what doesn't work when building a culture of innovation in government. 

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Laws from the OPM Lab: Driving Change in DC and Beyond

In this article by the Centre for Public Impact's Adrian Brown, Ascendant CEO Stephanie Wade shares her insights  and lessons learned in leading the first of its kind human-centered design innovation lab in the U.S. Federal government.

The Value and Impact of Innovation and Design in Government

Ascendant CEO Stephanie Wade discusses the value and impact of innovation and design in government with Design In Focus to explore what it looks, like how it can be used most effectively, and tools you can use to advance it in your organization.

What is Human Centered Design?

Ascendant CEO Stephanie Wade breaks down the human-centered design process and shares best practices on how to become a successful public sector entrepreneur.

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Using Human-Centered Design to Make Government Work Better and Cost Less

In this article by Tom Kalil, former Director of Policy in the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy shares more about how the United States Department of Agriculture partnered with the U.S. Lab@OPM (when led by Ascendant CEO Stephanie Wade) to use human-centered design to improve the National School Lunch Program delivered to millions of children around the country.

Designers Are Driving Change in City Hall

In this article by Government Technology, Ascendant CEO Stephanie Wade discusses discusses how the philosophies often used by designers to create human-centered products are generating culture change within local government.

Making innovation capacity stick for the long haul 

Ascendant CEO Stephanie Wade:  While there is little doubt government needs to use innovation skills to tackle complex problems, there are important tactics for leaders can use to gain traction in generating funding to maintain support for innovation in the long-run. 

5 Qualities Designers Need to be Successful in Government

Ascendant CEO Stephanie Wade discusses how government leaders are beginning to see designers as a critical resource and the top five key qualities designers need to be successful working in this environment.

5 Insights to Help City Leaders Stay Focused on Equity

In this article by Antionette Carroll, an expert in equity design, shares insights from her work with innovation staff in the Bloomberg Cities network to help city leaders push harder to make their human-centered design efforts more inclusive so they ensure outcomes are equitable for residents.

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Empowering Indonesian Farmers 

In this video by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the city of Trenggalek, Indonesia and Regent Mayor Mochamad Nur Arifin discuss the impact of their participation in the Bloomberg Philanthropies' Innovation Training program to increase education and community connections that support sustainable urban farming and expand economic opportunities for their city.