A Field Guide to Fix Government Forms
A practical, research-based handbook from The Lab @ DC that teaches public servants how to redesign confusing government forms through user-centered, evidence-based design methods.
Published in September 2025 by The Lab @ DC — an applied research and civic-design team in the D.C. Mayor’s Office — A Field Guide to Fix Government Forms walks practitioners step-by-step through assembling a redesign team, mapping service processes, writing in plain language, improving accessibility, and conducting user testing.
It draws on real D.C. case studies like the Form-a-palooza initiative and digital benefit applications to illustrate how poorly designed forms can burden or exclude residents, and how iterative design, testing, and collaboration can dramatically improve service delivery outcomes. The guide also includes printable templates, checklists, and translator guidance sheets for government teams working to modernize forms at any level.
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