Citizen First
From representation to participation.
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This is a concept project explored to address a specific problem or opportunity I identified. The details shared may be fictional or aspirational and do not necessarily reflect actual reality.
This is a concept project explored to address a specific problem or opportunity I identified. The details shared may be fictional or aspirational and do not necessarily reflect actual reality.
Overview
In a world where representative democracy often feels disconnected from the actual needs and voices of citizens, I envisioned an interface that empowers people to participate directly in policy making in their respective regions. This idea was born out of a desire to bridge the gap between citizens and governance, reduce inefficiencies and cost of traditional representation, and champion transparency and inclusivity. While the app remains a concept, the journey of crafting it was an opportunity to explore how design can make democracy more participatory, equitable, and impactful.
The Nigerian national assembly.
Overview
In a world where representative democracy often feels disconnected from the actual needs and voices of citizens, I envisioned an interface that empowers people to participate directly in policy making in their respective regions. This idea was born out of a desire to bridge the gap between citizens and governance, reduce inefficiencies and cost of traditional representation, and champion transparency and inclusivity. While the app remains a concept, the journey of crafting it was an opportunity to explore how design can make democracy more participatory, equitable, and impactful.
The Nigerian national assembly.
Context
In practice, representative democracy has achieved much. It allows for structured governance, protects minority rights through institutional checks, and fosters stability by insulating decision-making from the whims of direct public opinion. Countries like Norway and New Zealand exemplify how well this model can function when trust, transparency, and accountability are upheld. However, it often falls short of its ideals, particularly in regions plagued by corruption, elitism, and political apathy. Representatives prioritize personal or partisan interests over those of their constituents, eroding trust and leaving many voices unheard. The reliance on intermediaries can dilute public opinion, with policies reflecting political maneuvering more than the will of the people. Furthermore, voter apathy and limited accountability mechanisms can entrench inefficiencies, leaving citizens disempowered in the face of mismanagement or inaction.
Context
In practice, representative democracy has achieved much. It allows for structured governance, protects minority rights through institutional checks, and fosters stability by insulating decision-making from the whims of direct public opinion. Countries like Norway and New Zealand exemplify how well this model can function when trust, transparency, and accountability are upheld. However, it often falls short of its ideals, particularly in regions plagued by corruption, elitism, and political apathy. Representatives prioritize personal or partisan interests over those of their constituents, eroding trust and leaving many voices unheard. The reliance on intermediaries can dilute public opinion, with policies reflecting political maneuvering more than the will of the people. Furthermore, voter apathy and limited accountability mechanisms can entrench inefficiencies, leaving citizens disempowered in the face of mismanagement or inaction.
Let's examine a few real-world failures and challenges inherent in traditional systems of representation. These examples highlight the need for more transparent, accessible, and participatory systems where citizens can influence decisions directly.
Let's examine a few real-world failures and challenges inherent in traditional systems of representation. These examples highlight the need for more transparent, accessible, and participatory systems where citizens can influence decisions directly.
Voter apathy and low turnout
In many democratic countries, voter turnout continues to be a major challenge. For example, in the United States 2020 presidential election –– despite being one of the most high-profile elections in recent history, roughly 33% of eligible voters did not vote. Voter turnout was at 66%, which is considered high but still leaves a significant portion of the population not participating, highlighting a growing disconnection and disenfranchisement from the political process. Around 34% of the population did not vote in the UK's 2019 general elections, and young people (aged 18-24) had the lowest turnout. This highlights the fact that many citizens feel alienated from the political process and disillusioned with representatives who often don't align with their values or needs.
Voter turnout of the 2019 UK general elections.
Voter apathy and low turnout
In many democratic countries, voter turnout continues to be a major challenge. For example, in the United States 2020 presidential election –– despite being one of the most high-profile elections in recent history, roughly 33% of eligible voters did not vote. Voter turnout was at 66%, which is considered high but still leaves a significant portion of the population not participating, highlighting a growing disconnection and disenfranchisement from the political process. Around 34% of the population did not vote in the UK's 2019 general elections, and young people (aged 18-24) had the lowest turnout. This highlights the fact that many citizens feel alienated from the political process and disillusioned with representatives who often don't align with their values or needs.
Voter turnout of the 2019 UK general elections.
Corruption
In some cases, citizens’ voices are completely overshadowed by corruption or inefficiency in government. Take the Nigerian National Assembly for example, studies show that lawmakers in Nigeria have been repeatedly accused of absenteeism, underperformance, and corruption. A 2016 report found that over 30% of Nigerian senators and 20% of House of Representatives members were absent from more than half of their sessions, despite receiving large salaries. Corruption scandals, including the mismanagement of funds, continue to plague the country’s representative system, eroding public trust in elected officials. In the Philippines, a large-scale corruption scandal involving the misallocation of public funds through a "pork barrel" system came to light in 2013. Lawmakers were found to be diverting government funds to fake NGOs and pocketing the money. Public outrage was massive, yet the political elite largely escaped punishment, deepening distrust in representative institutions.
Corruption
In some cases, citizens’ voices are completely overshadowed by corruption or inefficiency in government. Take the Nigerian National Assembly for example, studies show that lawmakers in Nigeria have been repeatedly accused of absenteeism, underperformance, and corruption. A 2016 report found that over 30% of Nigerian senators and 20% of House of Representatives members were absent from more than half of their sessions, despite receiving large salaries. Corruption scandals, including the mismanagement of funds, continue to plague the country’s representative system, eroding public trust in elected officials. In the Philippines, a large-scale corruption scandal involving the misallocation of public funds through a "pork barrel" system came to light in 2013. Lawmakers were found to be diverting government funds to fake NGOs and pocketing the money. Public outrage was massive, yet the political elite largely escaped punishment, deepening distrust in representative institutions.
Bureaucracy and misrepresentation
Traditional representative systems often fail to reflect the collective will of the people. Representatives, constrained by bureaucracy or personal interests, sometimes vote in ways that diverge from the priorities of their constituents. This misalignment erodes trust in governance and contributes to widespread apathy.
Bureaucracy and misrepresentation
Traditional representative systems often fail to reflect the collective will of the people. Representatives, constrained by bureaucracy or personal interests, sometimes vote in ways that diverge from the priorities of their constituents. This misalignment erodes trust in governance and contributes to widespread apathy.
These shortcomings highlight the need to rethink governance models, perhaps to give citizens a more direct role in decision-making. The goal would not be to abandon the system entirely but to evolve it, creating a democracy that is both representative and participatory, reflecting the complexities of modern societies.
These shortcomings highlight the need to rethink governance models, perhaps to give citizens a more direct role in decision-making. The goal would not be to abandon the system entirely but to evolve it, creating a democracy that is both representative and participatory, reflecting the complexities of modern societies.
The challenge was clear:
The challenge was clear:
How could design empower citizens to directly shape the policies that affect their lives?
How could design empower citizens to directly shape the policies that affect their lives?
To answer this, I set out to explore a concept that could make the policymaking process transparent, accessible, and participatory for all.
To answer this, I set out to explore a concept that could make the policymaking process transparent, accessible, and participatory for all.
Diving into it all
I carried out a series of primary and secondary research analyses to get a gross estimation of the general public's political behaviours, with a focus on thier political concoincess. My analysis revealed 3 main groups:
Diving into it all
I carried out a series of primary and secondary research analyses to get a gross estimation of the general public's political behaviours, with a focus on thier political concoincess. My analysis revealed 3 main groups:
The engaged citizen – Regularly follows governance issues and actively participates in discussions.
The engaged citizen – Regularly follows governance issues and actively participates in discussions.
The curious observer – Wants to engage but feels intimidated by complex policymaking processes.
The curious observer – Wants to engage but feels intimidated by complex policymaking processes.
The skeptic – Doubts the impact of individual participation and fears their voice won’t matter.
The skeptic – Doubts the impact of individual participation and fears their voice won’t matter.
The engaged citizen.
The engaged citizen.
The curious observer.
The curious observer.
The skeptic.
The skeptic.
Research also revealed that I may have been overly aspirational about the effectiveness of a citizen-led government. While a fully direct democracy holds the promise of greater inclusivity and transparency, it also comes with notable challenges that must be addressed to ensure its viability.
Research also revealed that I may have been overly aspirational about the effectiveness of a citizen-led government. While a fully direct democracy holds the promise of greater inclusivity and transparency, it also comes with notable challenges that must be addressed to ensure its viability.
Participation fatigue
Scalability is a key concern, as asking citizens to vote on every policy risks overwhelming them, leading to participation fatigue and lower engagement. To address this, a direct democracy platform should prioritise key issues and allow users to engage selectively without compromising overall inclusivity.
Participation fatigue
Scalability is a key concern, as asking citizens to vote on every policy risks overwhelming them, leading to participation fatigue and lower engagement. To address this, a direct democracy platform should prioritise key issues and allow users to engage selectively without compromising overall inclusivity.
Decision quality and populism
Another significant drawback is the potential for uninformed decision-making and populism. Without adequate education on certain issues, citizens may prioritise short-term benefits over long-term solutions, or fall prey to misinformation and populist rhetoric. To counter this, the platform must integrate robust educational resources, expert opinions and fact-checking tools to foster informed and balanced decision-making. It is also probably a good idea to limit policies requiring expert insight, such as climate change mitigation strategies or fiscal policies, which may suffer from a lack of nuanced understanding among the general population.
Decision quality and populism
Another significant drawback is the potential for uninformed decision-making and populism. Without adequate education on certain issues, citizens may prioritise short-term benefits over long-term solutions, or fall prey to misinformation and populist rhetoric. To counter this, the platform must integrate robust educational resources, expert opinions and fact-checking tools to foster informed and balanced decision-making. It is also probably a good idea to limit policies requiring expert insight, such as climate change mitigation strategies or fiscal policies, which may suffer from a lack of nuanced understanding among the general population.
Participation inequality
Inequality in access and participation also poses a risk, as marginalised communities with limited digital access or education may be excluded, leading to decisions that fail to reflect their needs. A viable solution must address this gap through localised outreach, multilingual support, and partnerships to expand internet access.
Participation inequality
Inequality in access and participation also poses a risk, as marginalised communities with limited digital access or education may be excluded, leading to decisions that fail to reflect their needs. A viable solution must address this gap through localised outreach, multilingual support, and partnerships to expand internet access.
Security and manipulation risks
Allowing citizens to vote directly on policies raises significant concerns around cybersecurity and manipulation. Hackers, bad actors, or foreign interference could exploit vulnerabilities in the system to manipulate votes or sow distrust in the platform. Additionally, the system could be gamed by organized groups to push agendas that do not necessarily align with the broader public’s interests. Blockchain technology, rigorous verification protocols, and independent oversight bodies could help mitigate these risks.
Security and manipulation risks
Allowing citizens to vote directly on policies raises significant concerns around cybersecurity and manipulation. Hackers, bad actors, or foreign interference could exploit vulnerabilities in the system to manipulate votes or sow distrust in the platform. Additionally, the system could be gamed by organized groups to push agendas that do not necessarily align with the broader public’s interests. Blockchain technology, rigorous verification protocols, and independent oversight bodies could help mitigate these risks.
While these challenges are significant, they are not insurmountable. However, it is also important to recognise that a direct democracy model probably would not completely replace representative systems but it could complement them. Integrating direct participation in areas where citizen input is most needed—such as local governance or major national issues—the platform could strengthen, rather than destabilise, the democratic process –– and reduce government spending on corrupt representatives who hardly voice out opinions or vote in the interest of their people.
While these challenges are significant, they are not insurmountable. However, it is also important to recognise that a direct democracy model probably would not completely replace representative systems but it could complement them. Integrating direct participation in areas where citizen input is most needed—such as local governance or major national issues—the platform could strengthen, rather than destabilise, the democratic process –– and reduce government spending on corrupt representatives who hardly voice out opinions or vote in the interest of their people.
<h3> Focus area for this solution (country/city/town) </h3>
Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
<h3> Focus area for this solution (country/city/town) </h3>
Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
<h3> Sticky notes (feature brainstorm) Site-map / Information architechture </h3>
Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
<h3> Sticky notes (feature brainstorm) Site-map / Information architechture </h3>
Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
Insightful welcome
First time users see the app's purpose and benefits before diving into identity verification, reducing initial hesitation.
Insightful welcome
First time users see the app's purpose and benefits before diving into identity verification, reducing initial hesitation.
User registration and verification
Trust starts with guaranteeing that only eligible citizens participate. Government database integration ensures that only verified citizens can register. I aimed to reduce friction while maintaining trust, asking for minimal yet essential information (e.g., ID number, phone number). I added a friendly tone in microcopy to make the process feel human and approachable.
User registration and verification
Trust starts with guaranteeing that only eligible citizens participate. Government database integration ensures that only verified citizens can register. I aimed to reduce friction while maintaining trust, asking for minimal yet essential information (e.g., ID number, phone number). I added a friendly tone in microcopy to make the process feel human and approachable.
Policy proposal
Citizens need a platform to propose and evaluate policies. I designed a simplified template to guide users to articulate their proposals clearly, ensuring consistency and reducing cognitive load.
Policy proposal
Citizens need a platform to propose and evaluate policies. I designed a simplified template to guide users to articulate their proposals clearly, ensuring consistency and reducing cognitive load.
Category Filters allow users to browse proposals by sector (e.g., education, food, healthcare) to quickly find issues that matter to them. Cards summarize each proposal with a title, brief description, and progress status (e.g., “Under Review” or “Voting Open”).
Category Filters allow users to browse proposals by sector (e.g., education, food, healthcare) to quickly find issues that matter to them. Cards summarize each proposal with a title, brief description, and progress status (e.g., “Under Review” or “Voting Open”).
Discussion and debate forum
Democracies thrive on dialogue. Adding a forum fosters informed discussions while ensuring civility. Users can dive into subtopics without losing the context of the main discussion. AI-driven moderation prevents hate speech (once collaboratively defined), while pinned expert insights anchor discussions in fact. I employed a dual-tab layout: the left tab displays active threads, while the right displays the selected-interest threads. A soft indicator differentiates subject-matter expert comments, lending them credibility.
Discussion and debate forum
Democracies thrive on dialogue. Adding a forum fosters informed discussions while ensuring civility. Users can dive into subtopics without losing the context of the main discussion. AI-driven moderation prevents hate speech (once collaboratively defined), while pinned expert insights anchor discussions in fact. I employed a dual-tab layout: the left tab displays active threads, while the right displays the selected-interest threads. A soft indicator differentiates subject-matter expert comments, lending them credibility.
Voting mechanism
Live updates display how votes are shaping up, with clear visuals like bar charts and heat maps. Voting screens follow a progressive disclosure model –– users first see a policy summary, followed by its potential impact, and finally the voting interface. The action buttons are large, color-coded, and labeled with clear and active language. The live poll is only made visibile after vote has been cast. Displaying real-time results emphasise that every vote counts and every action is visible.
Voting mechanism
Live updates display how votes are shaping up, with clear visuals like bar charts and heat maps. Voting screens follow a progressive disclosure model –– users first see a policy summary, followed by its potential impact, and finally the voting interface. The action buttons are large, color-coded, and labeled with clear and active language. The live poll is only made visibile after vote has been cast. Displaying real-time results emphasise that every vote counts and every action is visible.
Sensitisation
Many citizens lack the context needed to make informed decisions. I explored bite-sized summaries and explainer videos to demystify policy details. I leaned on visual storytelling –– illustrations and motion graphics explain concepts like “How taxes fund education” in under two minutes.
Sensitisation
Many citizens lack the context needed to make informed decisions. I explored bite-sized summaries and explainer videos to demystify policy details. I leaned on visual storytelling –– illustrations and motion graphics explain concepts like “How taxes fund education” in under two minutes.
Users earn badges for completing quizzes on policy topics, turning learning into a rewarding experience. These badges can be used to...
Users earn badges for completing quizzes on policy topics, turning learning into a rewarding experience. These badges can be used to...
Localisation and accessibility
True inclusivity means designing for all citizens, regardless of location, language, or ability. Region-based content ensure that users see only proposals and discussions relevant to their designated geopolitical zone. Additionally, localisation settings automatically adjust language and regional context during onboarding.
Localisation and accessibility
True inclusivity means designing for all citizens, regardless of location, language, or ability. Region-based content ensure that users see only proposals and discussions relevant to their designated geopolitical zone. Additionally, localisation settings automatically adjust language and regional context during onboarding.
Build trust with transparency
True inclusivity means designing for all citizens, regardless of location, language, or ability. Region-based content ensure that users see only proposals and discussions relevant to their designated geopolitical zone.
Build trust with transparency
True inclusivity means designing for all citizens, regardless of location, language, or ability. Region-based content ensure that users see only proposals and discussions relevant to their designated geopolitical zone.
Final reflections
This product represents more than a design concept—it’s a vision for reimagining the current inefficiencies in governance. An aspiration to give citizens a direct voice in shaping their societies. On the challenge voter fraud, I envision this can be solved or at least largely minimised with the implementation of blockchain technology to ensure poll integrity. While it likely remain a prototype, the process of designing it has deepened my belief that thoughtful, user-centered design can solve even the most systemic challenges. As I look ahead, I’m excited to explore how this concept can evolve and, perhaps one day, come to life. A future where democracy truly belongs to and represents the views of the people.
Final reflections
This product represents more than a design concept—it’s a vision for reimagining the current inefficiencies in governance. An aspiration to give citizens a direct voice in shaping their societies. On the challenge voter fraud, I envision this can be solved or at least largely minimised with the implementation of blockchain technology to ensure poll integrity. While it likely remain a prototype, the process of designing it has deepened my belief that thoughtful, user-centered design can solve even the most systemic challenges. As I look ahead, I’m excited to explore how this concept can evolve and, perhaps one day, come to life. A future where democracy truly belongs to and represents the views of the people.
Last updated December 2024.
Last updated December 2024.