(Re)Form Durham
Durham's i-team launched a new initiative to make government forms simpler, easier, and less confusing.
Elementi significativi
The City of Durham and Durham County launched a new initiative to make government forms simpler, easier, and less confusing.
Durham’s i-team is partnering with behavioral scientists to run interactive, form-redesign workshops.
The first workshop involved more than 40 people, who brainstormed ideas to improve some of the city and county’s most frustrating forms.
Riepilogo
Government forms are often confusing, lengthy, and frustrating – acting as an obstacle rather than a tool for citizens. Inspired by Washington, D.C.’s ‘form-a-palooza’, the City of Durham and Durham County set their sights on breathing new life into their forms.
Durham’s i-team is leading the initiative, and it has partnered with behavioral scientists from Duke’s Center for Advanced Hindsight to run interactive, form-redesign workshops. These ‘(Re)Form Durham’ events will enable citizens and government employees to work together to improve problem forms.
October 2018 marked the first (Re)Form Durham workshop, involving more than 40 residents and city workers. After brief training on key behavioral science principles, participants brainstormed ways to improve four particularly frustrating forms. These forms were nominated by attendees themselves.
The kick-off event was a resounding success, and it highlighted the fact that, with some basic direction, anyone is capable of innovation. The project didn’t involve new technology or special training – just pen, paper, and enthusiasm.