Concept study · 2026
Civic Lens
A public-interest prototype for making local policy easier to understand.
- Disciplines
- Research, Interaction design, Information design
The question
Public decisions are usually available, but availability is not the same as understanding. Agendas, minutes, budgets, and consultations arrive in formats designed for administration rather than ordinary reading.
Civic Lens explores a calmer way to follow a local issue over time.
The approach
The prototype organizes each issue around three views: what changed, who is affected, and what happens next. Original documents remain attached to every summary so that interpretation never replaces evidence.
Instead of an endless feed, the interface offers a finite weekly digest. Readers can compare versions of a proposal, see unanswered questions, and save a short personal brief.
What the project is testing
- Whether plain-language timelines improve comprehension.
- How uncertainty can be shown without becoming vague.
- Which details people need before participating in a public process.
This is an exploratory project, not a deployed civic service.