Crafting Community: How Placemaking Shapes Our Neighborhoods

Sora is an AI model that can create realistic and imaginative scenes from text instructions.

Sora: Creating video from text

California’s State Crustacean: A Seafood Symbol in the Making?

https://thecivicdesigner.beehiiv.com/p/wrap-up-01

Create a website in less than a minute with instant page loads, SEO optimization, and no-code theming. All your content is kept and managed in Notion so you can focus on creating while Super handles the rest.

Super — Create Websites with Notion

The benefits of networking, learning, and growing within a design community

United in Creativity: Why Every Designer Needs a Community

Strut combines the tools you need to run your entire writing process — capture projects, notes, drafts, and more in collaborative workspaces powered by AI.

Strut — The all-in-one AI workspace for writing

Designing for Public Good

https://thecivicdesigner.beehiiv.com/p/designing-public-good

Introducing the So. Cal Texture Pack. This pack features 20 natural textures from various locations around Southern California. From the beach to the desert to the mountains, this pack highlights the beauty that So. Cal has to offer. Perfect for adding a natural touch to your designs.Texture pack includes:20 Print Resolution PNG Files (4000x5000 – 600 DPI)20 Screen Resolution PNG Files (1120x1400 – 150 PPI)Give me a shoutout on Instagram by tagging @robertvidaure. I love seeing how you all use these textures. As a sign of thanks, I'll provide you with a discount code and exclusive peek into future product releases.

So. Cal Texture Pack

High User Satisfaction Marks Success of IRS Direct File Pilot

https://thecivicdesigner.beehiiv.com/p/wrap-up-04

With no working outage tracker from the Houston area’s main electricity provider, people are turning to the chain’s map of open restaurants after Hurricane Beryl.

In Search of Power, Texans Ask: Are the Lights on at Whataburger?

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/09/us/beryl-whataburger-power-houston.html

How the National Park Service Mastered Humor on Social Media

From LOL to Leave No Trace

Exploring the Impact of Public Art in Transportation

The Commuter’s Gallery

The Essential Role of Designers in Public Sector Innovation

Building Better Communities

Art, Memory, and Community—Rethinking Portsmouth Square

How Strategic Communication Drives Trust, Funding, and Engagement

From Awareness to Action: Branding in Public Works

For team work, personal projects, and everything in between.

Superlist: Home to all your lists

“Everything from the colour scheme to the design is based around my desk”

Creative Director’s Desk Setup

The lawsuit seeks to upend a major part of Apple’s business.

US sues Apple for illegal monopoly over smartphones

Trying to be more consistent with my newsletter.

What is real life? 😮 https://openai.com/sora

Here’s the first of many ‘Wrap-Ups,’ a monthly collection of findings, resources, and other interesting news in the civic design space. Sign up to get it straight into your inbox. 

https://thecivicdesigner.beehiiv.com/p/wrap-up-01

I love my keyboard, but I have an itch to build a new one.

This is your reminder that it’s never too late to start a design community in your local region.

Sometimes I feel like I’m the only designer that’s passionate and gets excited about working in the public sector. Is there anyone else out there? 🙃

Has anyone used super.so for their personal or portfolio website? I spend a lot of time in Notion and I think it might be more efficient being able to update content all in one place.

Does anyone know of any conferences for designers that work in the public sector?

Brunch on the balcony on this lovely sunny Sunday.

I won a couple of Addy Awards last week for a logo design I did last year. 😄

Joining a design community, especially those focused on the public sector, can be incredibly rewarding. It enhances your professional skills and allows you to contribute meaningfully to societal betterment through design.

A clean AI writing workspace that helps with any writing process.

Thanks for all the amazing art Frank Stella.

I am starting my first newsletter. I'm looking forward to sharing this journey with you all. 
https://thecivicdesigner.beehiiv.com/p/designing-public-good

Just finished putting together this texture pack I created from various natural park locations around Southern California. Great for adding a natural touch to your designs.

When civic design works, it has the potential to

https://thecivicdesigner.beehiiv.com/p/wrap-up-04

And this is why we need more designers and developers in public service and government. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/09/us/beryl-whataburger-power-houston.html

If you don’t have a Plan B, you don’t have a plan.

Does anyone have good examples of design resource websites? Please share.

Sometimes humor is the best form of communication.

Public art plays a critical role in shaping a city’s urban landscape, offering many benefits that enhance the quality of life for its residents and visitors alike.

As cities grow and communities become more interconnected, the role of designers in shaping public spaces, services, and experiences has never been more crucial.

First time zooming in on this icon and realizing how perfect it is. Any guesses where it's from?

Sunday morning on the porch with a good book. It’s a good read for creatives wanting to communicate their value. Remember you’re not selling logos, UIs, photos or digital products. You’re selling trust, influence, impact.

Does anyone have the final number of AI startups Apple killed today? I lost count.

The interplay between urban redevelopment, cultural heritage, and community engagement can be complex. We must underscore the need for inclusive dialogue in shaping our public spaces.

Strong branding and marketing matter for public service agencies.

The creators of the beloved Wunderlist are back with a new task management app. https://www.superlist.com/

The Adobe legal team is working overtime this year…

Finish the sentence. 

Design should be __________ .

💡 Question for designers: Have you ever considered working in the public sector? Why or why not?

Was Apple right to gatekeep, or have they gone too far?

The Ricoh GR III is still my favorite pocket camera. It packs a serious punch. I highly recommend picking one up.

Q1 Goals for 2024
👉 Start a Community Newsletter
👉 Generate 2-4 leads for my agency
👉 Create 2 Digital Design Products

What’s your Q1 Goals?

Built me a new keyboard.
•Keychron Q1 Max ⌨️ 
•Gateron Smoothie Linear Switches
•KSA Double-shot PBT keycaps with a custom orange key I spray painted myself.

Cosmos is my new favorite inspiration board.

Posts