Announcing New Episodes: CoDesign Conversations
Presented by Coforma
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CoDesign Collaborative Announces Second Slate of “CoDesign Conversations” Episodes, Presented by Coforma
January 15, 2026 — CoDesign Collaborative is pleased to announce a second slate of CoDesign Conversations, the monthly LinkedIn Live series, presented in partnership with Coforma, a values-driven digital services company.
CoDesign Conversations explore the dynamic intersection of design, technology, and public service—highlighting how cross-sector approaches lead to more equitable and effective systems. Each episode convenes leaders from government, mission-driven organizations, and industry to reflect on shared challenges, breakthrough ideas, and the expanding role of design in shaping civic life.
Following the success of the six-episode pilot, episodes 7–12 will continue in Spring 2026. This new installment arrives at a critical moment for the industry, as broader systemic shifts increasingly favor commercialization and trends that emphasize visual outputs over human-centered impact. The second series will serve as a vital platform to advocate for the value of design and research in a world where the core values of human-centered design are under pressure from commercial influence.
“We are witnessing a fundamental change in how design is practiced across both the public and private sectors,” says Melissa Casburn, VP of Design at Coforma. “As a supporter of the series, Coforma aims to shine a light on truly human-centered work, injecting rigor and empathy back into the conversation at a time when the focus is shifting toward speed and privatization.”
The second series will explore the roles of designers and researchers across a range of topics, including creating people-centered organizations, designing public policy, improving the veteran experience, building accessible products and services, and the use of open-source AI in government. This slate builds upon the pilot series, convening forward practitioners and civic-minded professionals who are redefining and designing systems with equity, accountability, and effectiveness at their core.
CoDesign Conversations will continue to air live on LinkedIn, with recorded content and accompanying resources available on CoDesign Collaborative’s website. Episode 7: The Hope for Human-Centered Design will air on February 18 at 1pm EST / 10am PST, moderated by Melissa Casburn of Coforma, with guest speakers Eric Corey Freed, Principal, Director of Sustainability at CannonDesign, Jennifer Rittner, Assistant Dean, Curriculum + Learning and Assistant Professor, Strategic Design + Management at Parsons School of Design and Jabali Williams, Chief Experience Officer at Environmental Working Group.
For episode and speaker details, visit codesigncollaborative.org/codesign-conversations or follow CoDesign Collaborative on LinkedIn.
For media inquiries, please contact:
CoDesign Collaborative
Liana Mestas (she/her/hers)
Interim Executive Director
liana@codesigncollaborative.org
(888) 287-0167 x 705
Coforma
Tanya Wheeler-Berliner (she/her/hers)
Head of Marketing and Communications
tanya.wheeler-berliner@coforma.io
(303) 859-0915