DESIGN FOR
Public Participation in Policy Development
HaveYourSay.ie is part of a design response to a growing disconnect between citizens and policymaking—one shaped by distrust, fatigue, and frustration.
In our research, we found that people are often reluctant to speak up in the policy making process—not because they don’t care, but because they feel anxious, unheard, or simply disillusioned. Public outreach is frequently seen as performative, with little follow-through. Policy itself is viewed as abstract, out of reach, and irrelevant to daily life. Meanwhile, citizens are overwhelmed with information, but rarely the kind that feels meaningful or actionable.
To respond to this, we developed two design interventions:
– HaveYourSay.ie, a web-based platform that makes participation in live policy decisions simple, fast, and transparent.
– The Policy Vending Machine, a playful physical installation that turns policy engagement into a tangible, everyday act.
Both concepts aim to rebuild trust, reduce friction, and spark real dialogue—meeting people where they are, and making their voices part of the process again.
Better Public Services and NCAD
Design Masters Presentations Video
HOW MIGHT WE...
...create innovative, accessible, and engaging ways for the public to participate in policy development, ensuring their voices are heard and trusted by the state?
...make people feel heard and create an on-going dialogue?
...de- stigmatise the topic of policymaking and get the conversation going?
...demonstrate tangible impacts of their input on policy outcomes?
RESEARCH
Our research combined desk research, interviews, and user testing to understand what might encourage more meaningful engagement in Ireland.
We spoke with a range of people—including migrants, young adults, neurodivergent users, and long-time residents—many of whom felt excluded from public discourse due to complex language, unclear processes, or past experiences of being ignored. Several recurring insights emerged:
People are often reluctant to engage—due to anxiety, ambivalence, or anger.
Public consultation is frequently perceived as performative rather than impactful.
Policy communication is abstract, wordy, and overwhelming, especially for those without formal education or digital fluency.
Many experience consultation fatigue, feeling bombarded with requests for input that rarely lead to visible change.
There’s a desire for clearer, quicker, and more relevant ways to have a say—especially on local and everyday issues.
"The main problem is that citizens feel they’re not being heard, they’re not making or seeing a difference."
OUR SOLUTION IDEAS
THE DESIGNS
HaveyourSay.ie
Have your say
The app to empower citizens
THE FINAL RESULT
The Policy Vending Machine
The Policy Vending Machine
A new way to spark conversations about policy
Thank you for watching :)
Designs realised by Arianna Di Donato | Zoe Tran | Anthony Harte | Samuel Connolly
NCAD, 2025
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