“If civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships — the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together, in the same world at peace.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt

If there is anything we have learned in the past week, it is that the government is still very relevant. In an era when we have been having an ongoing debate about the role of government, it has become very apparent that the interface between governments and the people those governments serve is incredibly important. It’s time for the government to focus on user experience and user interface design.

It is well within reason to expect a series of major stimulus packages to come out of the Federal Government in the coming months and years. This means more touch points between the government and the people. We will see new interactions between people and government that we haven’t in the past, and likely new government programs to help people and businesses recover from a massive disruption in economic activity. There has been and will continue to be a major information-sharing initiatives related to public health, economic stimulus, and new government programs and services. In addition to new government programs, typical interactions with government, like voting, will have to be redesigned.

This presents an opportunity for the Federal Government and likely also State and Local governments. This is an opportunity for government organizations to show their effectiveness. Regardless of the policy decisions that are made by the politicians, government organizations will be tasked with effectively communicating new government programs to the people. This is also an opportunity to be creative. Imagine being a UX designer for the New Deal during Franklin Roosevelt’s administration. It is an opportunity to reinvent how government is perceived.

This is not just about the functionality of a website. This is about creating positive experiences and effective interfaces for the people as they get information and services from the government during a prolonged period of uncertainty. Designers should seek to inspire a new era of good feeling and optimism through these new government initiatives. Designers have the capacity to show people that government can be an effective instrument of good.