Join us for the spring 2026 graphic design lecture series. 

Ashleigh Axios: Designing where it matters: alternative paths in civic design

What does it look like to build a design career focused on public impact? In this talk, Ashleigh Axios shares her creative journey through government, consulting, and civic innovation, alongside case studies spanning national digital services and crisis response. She’ll offer a candid look at the current moment in civic design and explore where ethical, systems-minded designers can make the greatest impact. Leave with a clearer sense of alternative career paths and the role design can play in shaping public systems.

Ashleigh Axios is the CEO of Public Servants, a public interest firm, and a former Obama White House Creative Director. She’s also a RISD trustee, past AIGA Board Chair, and founder of DotGov Design. Her work bridges design, equity, and public systems to create sustainable, people-centered impact.