Citizen Designer/Total UI

Executive Order 14338

Design is now mandated
‍

‍VIEW ORDER →

‍

Executive Order 14222

Efficiency is now enforced

‍VIEW ORDER →

70%

of public sector modernization initiatives underdeliver

McKinsey, Public Sector UX Benchmarks

Most teams are stuck in the
‍build trap.

‍AI and low-code help teams build fast, but building fast on incorrect assumptions about user needs and mission priorities only increases waste.

The Build Trap

The
Build Trap

Missed needs

Poor experience

Avoidable rework

Leadership pressure

Reactive delivery

Click to learn more

Title

Why it matters

Impact

← Close

This isn’t a tooling problem.
It’s a decision problem.

Low-code platforms gave every team citizen developers.
No one gave them citizen designers.

Citizen Dev vs Designer Table

	Citizen Developer	Citizen Designer
Dimension Role	Citizen Developer Build functional systems	Citizen Designer Ensure systems deliver mission value
Dimension Success Metric	Citizen Developer Features deployed, tickets closed	Citizen Designer Outcomes achieved, rework eliminated
Dimension Decision Scope	Citizen Developer How to implement technical changes	Citizen Designer What problem to solve and what to build
Dimension Scales	Citizen Developer Delivery capacity	Citizen Designer Decision quality
Dimension Risk Addressed	Citizen Developer Technical debt and delays	Citizen Designer Misalignment and mission failure

Citizen Developers help you build faster.
‍Citizen Designers ensure you’re building the right thing.

A Complete System for Evidence-Based Delivery

Citizen Designer combines training, digital tools, coaching, and workflow integration to build internal capability for better software decisions.

Training

Build foundational capability across your workforce.

Structured learning that equips teams to discover, validate, and prioritize better decisions.

Enables

Shared discovery and validation skills across teams
Reduced reliance on external experts
A common language for better software decisions

Teams Receive

Tailored Citizen Designer learning modules
Role-based learning paths
LMS-ready training packages and workshop materials

Operational Platform & Tooling

Give teams the infrastructure to apply what they learn.

Connected tools and workflows that guide discovery, validation, and decision-making in active delivery environments.

Enables

- Repeatable discovery and validation practices
- Reuse of evidence across projects and teams
- More consistent, evidence-based decisions

Teams Receive

- Interactive Method Manager with guided workflows and method recommendations
- Connected research and evidence workspace
- Reusable playbooks, templates, and operational artifacts

Coaching & Engagement

Turn learning into real-world execution.

Embedded support that helps teams apply Citizen Designer methods during active delivery work.

Enables

Faster adoption of new practices
Facilitated workshops and working sessions
Better decisions on active initiatives

Teams Receive

Embedded coaching sessions
Facilitated workshops and working sessions
Expert support during critical delivery decisions

Integration &
Scaling

Embed new ways of working into your system.

Connect discovery and validation into delivery pipelines, governance, and execution.

Enables

Evidence-based delivery embedded into existing workflows
Consistent practices across teams and programs
Long-term retention of mission knowledge and decision history

Teams Receive

Workflow integration support
Governance and operating model guidance
Scalable practices for enterprise adoption

Proven with Leading Organization

PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK (BETA COHORT)

Mission Impact

4.9 / 5 ★

Content Clarity

4.7 / 5 ★

Real-World Relevance

4.6 / 5 ★

"Citizen Designer sparked a real cultural shift across AF/A1. It gave our teams the tools and mindset to build better solutions every day."

Director of Design Management and UX Strategy

United States Air Force (USAF)

U.S. Air Force

Piloting Citizen Designers in Government

Throughline partnered with the United States Air Force (USAF) to pilot a “Citizen Designer” program, creating practical learning modules and toolkits that teach product-focused design methods, later deployed in the USAF learning system for broad, scalable use.

Faster delivery with less rework

with less rework

Higher mission impact

per dollar spent

Empowered staff

less contractor reliance

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this different from hiring a UX consultant? +

Citizen Designer builds internal capabilities, not just external deliverables. Your team learns how to define, test, and validate what to build so better decisions continue after the engagement ends.

Will this slow down delivery? +

No. In fact, it prevents teams from moving quickly in the wrong direction by reducing rework and validating assumptions earlier.

Do participants need a design background? +

No. The program is designed for program leads, operators, and delivery teams. The methods are practical and directly applied into real work.

What happens after the program ends? +

Your team keeps the methods, tools, and working practices. The goal is to leave behind capabilities that continue to improve decisions over time.

You’ve solved how to build.
It's time to solve what to build.

Most teams are stuck in the
‍build trap.

‍AI and low-code help teams build fast, but building fast on incorrect assumptions about user needs and mission priorities only increases waste.