Visualizing America’s Faith in the Power of Democracy
Lessons Then, Reflections Now
In 2018, Bixal assisted in the discovery, design and development of The Democracy Project, a study designed to understand Americans’ current view of the state of our democracy, in which we created a microsite to visualize the data found in the study. The project was formed in conjunction with a partnership with Freedom House, the George W. Bush Institute and the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement.
To expand on this effort, the Freedom House Special Report 2018 highlights the ideas behind The Democracy Project:
“Even as Americans remain committed to the ideals of democracy, a majority see democracy in the United States as weak and getting weaker, according to a national survey jointly commissioned by [the partnership]. With democracy and democratic institutions under attack globally, the three organizations engaged two polling firms, one Democratic and one Republican, to survey Americans’ attitudes about democratic principles and institutions at home and support for U.S. policies that advance democracy abroad.”
One of the primary questions Bixal aimed to answer was: “Has the public begun to lose faith in basic democratic concepts?” The partnership engaged opinion researchers to survey the public to find out. After collecting data, Freedom House asked Bixal to synthesize these complex concepts into digestible visualizations, as referenced in the chart below.
In several ways, the act of data visualization epitomizes how Bixal “lives” its public service mission, by better understanding American citizens’ needs so we then can improve how our public institutions interact and support them.
People-focused Discovery
As a project manager, I’ve developed an acute understanding of the importance of building strong, meaningful relationships. This people focus remained central to the discovery process for The Democracy Project microsite. Bixal’s user experience (UX) and design team used agile principles to engage with users, primarily focusing on forging a deep understanding of our partners’ goals through the people they impacted most.
Having spent the time to understand The Democracy Project goals, we quickly realized that the heart of a project was much more than simply reading key opinion findings. Through the research, the Bixal team was completely immersed in the world of our clients and their users, the American public, which allowed us to gain a deeper appreciation for this important work.
Project Legacy and New Perspectives
Now, two years later, the original microsite is no longer accessible, as it was absorbed into a case study on the Freedom House primary website. Despite shifting priorities, our work remains valuable, and the legacy of our efforts is as relevant today as it was then.
Reflecting on our time with The Democracy Project, I feel it’s more important now, perhaps more than ever in our history, that the American public understand the concepts at play and institutions that contribute to promoting a healthy and vibrant American democracy. After the attempts of insurrection on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, we were quickly presented with the harsh reality that our democracy isn’t promised; its fragile state requires nurturing and support by the people it represents.
It cannot be understated how impactful this work was to my perception of democracy in America. Living and working in Washington, D.C., can create a “bubble.” You’re surrounded by people who work within the confines of the democratic system we’ve built, and the views of my neighbor most often are those of my own.
The findings of The Democracy Project user research, however, broadened my perspectives and helped me, and our team, realize that the view of democracy is not the same for everyone. In fact, it is constantly being challenged, here in the United States as well as around the world. As the Freedom House report states:
“The phenomenon has not spared the United States, where confidence in our governing institutions has been weakening over many years and key pillars of our democracy, including the rule of law and freedom of the press, are under strain.”
That said, we Americans are a resilient, stubborn bunch. While we may be discouraged about our democracy’s current form, our obligation to promoting democracy remains alive and vibrant.
“We are encouraged by our findings that American commitment to democracy remains strong. Sweeping majorities want to live in a democracy, and they endorse U.S. support for democracy abroad.”
These findings, coupled with the current topography of the American political environment, has me wondering how these same survey questions would be met by Americans today?
It’s been nearly three years since we wrapped up the work with The Democracy Project and Freedom House. At the time, the intended audience ranged from politicians and students to journalists and advocates.
If we conducted the research today, I wonder who we would aim to reach. Perhaps marginalized populations both domestic and abroad, political leaders in fledgling democracies, eager researchers, small non-profits? All of the above?
The truth is, we all hold a stake in the success of our democracy. And as a citizen of a country that is a leading advocate for the democratic process, I’m proud to have contributed, even in some small way, to examining the current state — and preserving the delicate nature — of democracy through my work here at Bixal.
Disclaimer: Views expressed are those of the authors and belong to them alone. The content, including any that may have been created by individuals currently or formerly employed by Bixal, does not directly reflect the views, opinions or experiences of Bixal or its constituents.
