Global MODEL FOR DEMOCRATIZING DESIGN
The Global Model for Democratizing Design is a flexible, humanity-centered framework designed to embed design thinking and practice across diverse systems and communities. Rooted in shared values: context, belonging, empathy, empowerment, and wonder, it integrates design into four key sectors—business, civic, education, and the design profession—connecting policy and practice to drive systemic impact.
By guiding stakeholders through an “Impact Journey” from awareness to advocacy and equipping them with practical tools and methods, the model fosters inclusive, collaborative decision-making and continuous measurement of outcomes.
Initially created for the San Diego–Tijuana cross-border megaregion, it is purposefully structured for adaptation and replication in other regions worldwide, enabling communities everywhere to co-create more equitable and sustainable futures.
Modelo Global para la Democratización del Diseño
El Modelo Global para la Democratización del Diseño es un marco flexible, centrado en las personas, diseñado para integrar el Design Thinking y la práctica del diseño en sistemas y comunidades diversas. Se fundamenta en valores compartidos, contexto, pertenencia, empatía, empoderamiento y asombro, e integra el diseño en cuatro sectores clave: empresa, gobierno, educación y la profesión del diseño. Conecta las políticas públicas con la acción para generar un impacto sistémico.
El modelo guía a los actores a través de una Ruta de Impacto, que va desde la sensibilización hasta la acción, al proveer herramientas y métodos prácticos. De esta manera, impulsa una toma de decisiones inclusiva y colaborativa, así como una medición constante de los resultados.
Originalmente desarrollado para la mega-región transfronteriza San Diego–Tijuana, el marco está estructurado para ser adaptado y replicado en otras regiones del mundo. Permite que comunidades de distintos contextos co-creen futuros más equitativos y sostenibles.
A Democratized Model for Designing Collective Futures
The model is a simplified, actionable, and inclusive approach to embedding design across systems and communities with a focus on anchoring it in the civic sector.
The model reflects its purpose: cultivating collective ownership, agency, and inclusion. At its core, this is about more than democratizing access—it's about designing systems where everyone belongs, everyone contributes, and everyone benefits.
How the system works: a living, adaptive Ecosystem
The Global Model is a replicable and scalable, non-hierarchical network that transforms how design is practiced and implemented.
Distributed Power: Power is distributed, not centralized
Information Flow: Information flows through workshops, open-source platforms, and shared feedback loops
Facilitation Role: Professional designers are facilitators and stewards of inclusive, collective decision-making
Multi-Directional Collaboration: Collaboration is multi-directional
Active Participation: Communities are active participants
Sustainable Partnerships: Building public-private partnerships to support sustainable action
prototyping the model
The model shared above in English and Spanish were developed from feedback from global thought leaders, design professionals, educators, policy makers and key partners at the World Design Policy Conference 2024 Democratizing Design workshop. Join our movement to democratize design and reach out at info@ddsdtj.com with your ideas, feedback, and interest.
Global model narratives
Narratives with detailed descriptions for each of the elements comprising the model are provided below.
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Design is no longer the domain of experts alone—it's a civic tool for shaping futures. Democratizing Design is a humanity-centered, system-aware framework that invites all to co-create impactful solutions through shared decision-making and localized implementation.
This model is built from the bottom up, prioritizing community voices while leveraging aspiring and professional design expertise.
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To activate the model, five essential values are supported by additional inclusive dimensions:
Context: Consider the ecosystem, history, and cultural dynamics.
Belonging: Foster accessibility, inclusion and opportunities where all feel seen and valued.
Empathy: Understand deeply, without judgment.
Empowerment: Shift power. Enable agency, not dependency. Seek permission, not assumption.
Wonder: Stay curious and open to what could be.
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Policy + Practice = Systemic Impact. Design must influence both daily life and long-term structures. We embed design in:
Decision-making (strategy, services, tools)
Policy-making (rules, governance, systemic structures)
When co-created with communities, Policy becomes a vehicle for belonging—ensuring more just, inclusive outcomes.
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Each with Their Own Systems, Culture & Values to engage meaningfully. Design is embedded in four interconnected sectors, each needing buy-in and clear value alignment:
Civic: For inclusive policy-making and Community trust-building through transparent engagement.
Business: For innovation, differentiation, and human-centered strategy.
Education: To develop learners and educators who are critical thinkers, empathetic, and systems-aware.
Design Sector: Uplifting the profession by expanding its influence, relevance, and appreciation, and advocacy of design across sectors and the community.
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To Implement the model and bring it to life, we support activating entry points through:
Engagement Guides: For each sector and their community (civic, business, education, design)
Training Programs: To build capacity
Interactive Platforms: For feedback and co-design
Open-source Visual Toolkits: For shared use
The model is flexible to enable replicability and scalability.
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Aware → Align → Adopt → Advocate
We increase value of design by guiding individuals and institutions through:
Aware: Recognize design as a tool for systems change
Align: Build shared language and common goals
Adopt: Apply tools, methods, and co-design practices
Advocate: Lead with stories, evidence, and peer-to-peer influence thereby developing champions
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Measurement is key to legitimacy and sustainability.
Continuous measurement, education, and engagement are critical to demonstrate the value of design to improve quality of life.
Continuous feedback loops refine and evolve the model.
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Rich in history, shaped by people, backed by evidence.
The Democratizing Design model is rooted in lived experience, built on history, research, deep listening and shaped through collaboration across diverse sectors. It honors our region’s design legacy, incorporates diverse voices, and is guided by evidence and co-design. Our process was designed to be as inclusive and rigorous, drawing on four foundational inputs: historical context, ecosystem awareness, evidence-based research, and co-design.
The model reflects and honors the past decade of regional and global design work. It reflects the collective effort and spirit of collaboration that achieved the World Design Capital title—a milestone effort led by a transition team committed to innovation and inclusion.
This foundation—rich in history, shaped by people, backed by evidence, and responsive to ecosystems—is what makes the Democratizing Design model not only globally relevant but deeply human.
Join us in our journey to Democratize Design. Learn more, get involved, share your feedback, and be part of a transformative movement that seeks to make design accessible to all. Email us at info@ddsdtj.com to get in touch!
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