Stevie McGowan

Stevie is the Design & Innovation Lead and founder of Glasgow’s Centre for Civic Innovation in Scotland’s largest local authority. His pioneering citizen-centered team is responsible for establishing a design-led approach to understanding societal shifts and civic experiences in the city. Their mission is to embed design in local government to tackle social inequality and the climate crisis.

Stevie graduated in Graphic Design before moving into tech innovation, focused on developing groundbreaking innovative solutions, systems design, UX, and UI (before that had a name!). Following a number of lead roles in local government, Stevie has a track record of developing teams that deliver people-focused solutions. He understands what it takes to innovate within the public sector. His award-winning team spearheads citizen-focused projects at Glasgow City Council, earning global recognition from Bloomberg Philanthropies, Service Design Network, Scottish Design Awards, and the Global Open Government Awards.

Stevie is a V&A Dundee Associate Designer and advisor for Design for Business and Design for Scotland, advocating for design policy nationally. He also mentors and speaks for the Scottish Government, NHS, and V&A, and works regularly with a range of academic institutions, including the University of Glasgow, DJCAD, and Glasgow School of Art. He believes passionately that design can be used as a driver for change, empowering people to co-design a better world for the common good.