SAM COLLINS

Civic Engagement

✧ poster design
✧ design research
✧ service design

This research project reimagines how the City of Cincinnati could approach its residents to promote civic engagement in a meaningful and accessible way.

This project was created in collaboration with Ellie Tranter and Yuki Hirota.

Problem Space

Historically, people living in the United States have a distrust of institutions. In fact, Gallup reports that in the last three years, trust in institutions have hit an all time low.¹

In recent years, there has been a growing disconnect between people and their local governments. People often feel unheard and disregarded in the planning process for their communities’ futures. This has sown distrust and frustration into the relationship between people and their groups of local officials.

1: https://news.gallup.com/poll/508169/historically-low-faith-institutions-continues.aspx

Exploratory Research Findings

We conducted an expert interview with two Community Engagement Specialists and two City Planners who work for the City of Cincinnati. Experts agreed that both sides of the process need to understand the other party’s point of view, so a form of two-way communication would be most productive.

Be accessible to multiple
groups of people of all
ages and backgrounds

Be sensitive and meaningful
to communities

“Meet people where
they are at”

Generative Research Findings

We asked participants to sort a series of cards that described steps in the city planning processes. No participant could successfully describe a city planning process, even with descriptions of each step provided on the cards. After the completion of the card sort, participants were shown a storyboard of one process and asked a series of questions to gauge their comprehension of the language used in current documentation and why they might feel deterred from participating in civic engagement.

Most people were confused by the language used by the City in current materials. They felt the time needed to spend on participating in meetings was inconvenient. We also spoke with groups who had concerns about their community lacking access to technology and digital formats of education.

Simplify jargon and
language used by the City

Be time-sensitive for
those who are busy

Be adaptable in format for communities that cannot conveniently access or afford technologies

Evaluative Research Findings

Throughout rounds of parallel prototyping and talk-aloud sessions, audiences were less inclined to interact with current City-branded materials and preferred less institutionally-designed posters. This opportunity allowed us to develop a new visual identity for the City Community Engagement initiative.

Utilize an approachable,
friendly style via branding

Problem Statement

How might we better educate people in local communities on the processes of city planning and how to be involved in them to promote trust, transparency, and a stronger relationship between the City and its residents?

Project Definition

This informative pilot campaign involving a new brand identity applied to an animated video and poster series will educate East Price Hill and University of Cincinnati members on the process of rezoning and civic engagement.

Immediate

Community members will have a better understanding of the rezoning process, its steps, and its stakeholders, as well as be more aware of ways they can be further involved within their local community.

Intermediate

Community members will be more involved and engaged with the City, providing the City with more feedback and increased perspectives that will be considered in the planning process.

Ultimate

Community members develop trust for the City of Cincinnati and feel that their feedback has been valued and reflected in new city plans.

A. Animated Poster Series

In our research, video and motion graphics were more interesting to viewers and the quickest way to convey information. This poster focused on the city process of Rezoning, which directly affects community members.

Other animated posters would discuss processes like “The Sale or Lease of City-Owned Property”, “Designation of a Historic District or Landmark”, and “Acquisition of Financial Assistance with Development”.

B. Static Poster Series

For neighborhoods that lack the space, funding, or other resources for animated posters, we created a static series that introduced why the rezoning process is important and how it affects community members. Relating content back to the viewer was the most successful pathway we found to getting residents to interact with the static posters. The QR code links back to touchpoint A for community members to save or watch on-the-go.

C. Postcard

These postcards would follow a system of labels that denote the area or neighborhood of Cincinnati in which they were obtained, as well as the issue or topic displayed at the kiosk from which they were obtained.

Community members can quickly fill out these postcards and return them to the City as they are pre-labeled and postaged for their convenience.