Speaker
Anna Carter is a Research Fellow at Northumbria University she has extensive experience in designing technologies for local council regeneration programs, her work focuses on creating accessible digital experiences in a variety of contexts using human-centred methods and participatory design. She works on building Digital Civics research capacities of early career researchers as part of the EU funded DCitizens Programme and on digital civics, outdoor spaces and sense of place as part of the EPSRC funded Centre for Digital Citizens.
Abstract
Digital Civics (DC) is a research agenda within HCI and CSCW focused on understanding how communities use technologies for collective civic aims, and examines the design and deployment of civically motivated technologies to address societal challenges. Its relational, bottom-up approach moves beyond participation to reconfigure power dynamics between researchers, communities, and institutions, emphasising cocreation, agency and justice. Despite growing interest, there remains a gap in understanding the significance of this approach and how it differentiates itself from adjacent fields such as participatory design or embedded research. This paper critically examines DC as a distinct and evolving area of work by analysing empirical findings from a seminar series, and multiple conference workshops with researchers engaged in this space. Through a thematic and content analysis, we identify that DC is framed by a set of orientations rather than a fixed methodology: relationship-building, justice and research as relational infrastructure. These orientations underscore the need for sustained, relational collaboration focused on systemic change with meaningful, long-term impact. We also reflect on structural barriers, such as institutional constraints, funding mechanisms, and academic evaluation metrics, that hinder the full potential of this research. Finally, we propose future considerations for DC, calling for researchers to push for institutional change, advocate for justice-orientated research and further develop sustainable, community-led infrastructures. By articulating DC’ orientations, motivations and potential, this paper contributes to shaping its future and reinforcing its role in fostering more equitable and impactful research practices — centred on the communities they serve.
Event Details
Date: July 16th, 2025
Time: 10:00-11:00 (GMT+1)
Location: Online
Registration: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/TLvpiiz60A