A woman in a black shirt places a sticky note on a whiteboard covered with colorful notes during a collaborative meeting, while others stand nearby and watch.

Practica

learn to design institutions that put humans first

Online courses from Civilla to help you build capacity and deliver impact at scale – designed for government staff and advocates.

skill building

Build core skills for designing human-centered public services, and apply them to real projects.

Three women sit at a desk in an office, smiling and talking. Papers, a computer, and office supplies are visible on the desk. File cabinets and cubicle walls are in the background. The image is in black and white.

Foundations

An introductory course on human-centered design for people working to improve public services.

Learn more

Three people are sitting on a carpeted floor, closely collaborating as they sketch on a long sheet of paper. One holds a drawing, another points, and there is a roll of tape nearby. Their faces are not visible.

design principles

Learn how to assess and refine public-facing materials using best practices in accessibility, visual design, and content design.

learn more

A woman wearing a headset sits at a desk with two computer monitors, typing on a keyboard. The screens display data and spreadsheets. Papers and office supplies are scattered on the desk.

User Research

Learn how to conduct user interviews and on-site observations that can guide your design process.

Learn more

A woman stands by a wall-mounted board, speaking to five seated colleagues in a Civilla studio meeting room. The board behind her displays colorful notes and a “what to expect today” sign. Sunlight streams through nearby windows.

Stakeholder Engagement + Storytelling

Learn how to build resilient relationships with your project’s stakeholders using the power of storytelling.

Learn more

A whiteboard covered with colorful sticky notes, papers, and printouts. The notes contain handwritten ideas, sketches, and symbols, indicating brainstorming or project planning.

User Testing

Learn when, why, and how to get ongoing user feedback on your paper and digital designs.

Learn more

A group of people stand in a semi-circle in an industrial-style hallway in Civilla's studio, listening to a speaker. There is a long sheet of paper with diagrams or notes on the floor and posters on the walls.

Implementation

Learn how to move from prototype to real-world implementation by testing your design, training teams, communicating changes, and ensuring users remain at the center.

Learn more

opportunity areas

Focus your design efforts on specific opportunities to improve public services.

A person holds an Michigan Assistance Application form listing healthcare, food, cash, child care, and emergency relief programs, with instructions and colorful program icons visible on the page.

Applications

Learn how to design a simple, usable benefits application, and start building institutional support for your project.

Learn more

A person in an orange striped sweater holds a stack of papers, with the top page titled Determination Notice, at a desk with a calculator and water bottle nearby.

Correspondence

Learn how to design public-facing correspondence that reduces confusion and improves the user experience.

Learn more

I loved this! The content on design fundamentals was incredibly helpful – I can use this in my work every single day.

Hope Lane, The Center for Community Solutions

enrollment help

If you have trouble signing up, reach out to us at practicaonline@civilla.org.

learning model

Civilla Practica is a collection of online courses for leaders and staff who want to bring human-centered design into public institutions. In each course, you will:

  • Learn proven methods from Civilla's work.
  • Practice new skills through low-stakes activities to help you build confidence.
  • Apply new skills to your own projects.
  • Reflect on how to sustain ethical, community-centered approaches.
  • Connect with a community of learners across institutions.

Practica courses are self-led and on-demand. Practica also supports cohort learning for teams. Learn more.