In November 2000, a poorly designed ballot in Florida provided an unexpected and unprecedented opportunity to act as a catalyst for change in the design of election materials.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, a multidisciplinary class at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) worked in collaboration with AIGA, the Office of the Cook County Clerk and the Chicago Election Board to conduct research and to develop theoretical solutions designed to improve the informational and physical systems involved in the American voting experience.

Under AIGA’s Design for Democracy initiative, prototypes developed by UIC students for polling place signage, document management and storage, and absentee balloting have been implemented in Chicago and suburban Cook County.