Working Design Session SDXD Presents: Designing the Communities We Want to Be a Part Of – Ft Sheba Najmi
Working Design Session SDXD Presents: Designing the Communities We Want to Be a Part Of – Ft Sheba Najmi
How does design shape our experience of the communities we belong to — whether they’re neighborhoods, workplaces, or online spaces? Join SDXD and civic design leader Sheba Najmi for an interactive session exploring how thoughtful, inclusive design can spark community impact, uplift overlooked voices, and create a deeper sense of meaning and belonging.
We’ll begin with a bold prompt: “Imagine this is your community.”
What would you notice? Who would you design for? And how would you understand what they truly need?
Through a mix of engaging talk, guided exercises, and group discussion, you’ll explore a human-centered process for:
• Identifying opportunities to make a difference in your communities
• Co-creating inclusive, people-centered solutions
• Uncovering and building upon the hidden strengths within a community
You’ll leave with:
A deeper awareness of the people who make up your communities, especially those too often overlooked
• Practical tools to design with, not just for, others
• Real-world examples from San Diego and beyond
• Relevant and inspirational insights from Sheba’s new civic design podcast
Whether you’re a designer or a community member looking to improve your community experience, this session will help you reimagine what’s possible — and your power to shape it. Come ready to reflect, connect, and co-create the communities you want to belong to.
About the Host
SDXD (San Diego Experience Design)
Sheba Najmi is a civic design leader with a background in UX and a passion for public impact. She founded Tech for Change, a San Diego–based nonprofit that connects technologists and governments to co-create human-centered solutions. Its flagship initiative, Code for Pakistan, has driven government culture change and community engagement for over a decade.
Sheba currently heads design at the U.S. Census Bureau and previously taught Product Design at San Diego City College. Earlier in her career, she held UX roles at Yahoo!, LinkedIn, and various startups. Her work bridges design, technology, and the civic experience.
SDXD (San Diego Experience Design Professionals Network)
San Diego Experience Design (SDXD) is a catalyst for a vibrant San Diego experience design community. We’re a professional network that spans disciplines, united by a shared passion for creating human-centered products and quality experiences. We host events, workshops, and talks that spark curiosity, enrich skills, make connections, and inspire.
