We help public agencies and philanthropies design solutions that work for real people—driving outcomes that last.
Complex challenges in health, human services, education, and climate resilience demand more than good ideas—they demand solutions that communities can use and sustain. Mathematica applies human-centered design (HCD) to ensure policies and programs reflect the experiences, needs, and priorities of the people they serve.
By combining HCD with quality improvement science, systems thinking, and deep policy expertise, we help clients move beyond concepts to solutions that are practical, scalable, and effective.
Let’s design solutions that work for the people you serve.
Contact us to explore how human-centered design can help you accelerate results in health, human services, workforce, or climate initiatives.
Connect with an ExpertWhy human centered design matters for your organization
Organizations often struggle with low adoption of new tools, programs, or services because solutions are designed without sufficient input from the people who use them. As a result they are hard to use and don’t solve the real problem. HCD addresses this gap.
At Mathematica, HCD is more than a design exercise—it’s a collaborative method for solving the hardest problems with our clients to improve the lives of those they serve:
Accelerates implementation: Solutions developed with end users are laser-focused on their specific problems and easier to adopt and sustain.
Reduces risk: Early prototyping and testing with real users helps identify barriers before costly rollouts.
Improves outcomes: Centering design on real-world needs drives effective solutions that improve service quality and system performance.
Strengthens trust: Collaborative co-design processes strengthen relationships with communities and partners.
Our Approach
We adapt HCD methods to the realities of large-scale systems and policy environments by taking HCD further to understand what works for end-users, how to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, and deliver on the client’s mission:
- Co-design workshops with agency staff, beneficiaries, and community partners.
- Rapid prototyping that aligns with program rules, procurement cycles, and federal/state reporting requirements.
- Iterative testing that makes learning continuous and balances innovation with compliance.
- Integration with other methods:
- Quality Improvement Science. Rapid cycles of change to improve performance.
- Systems Thinking. Mapping interconnected systems to identify leverage points for impactful, lasting change.
- Implementation Science. Bridging research and practice to scale what works.
Evidence in Action
Our HCD approach has generated results across diverse sectors
Medicaid Transformation in North Carolina
We partnered with state staff and community members to co-design a quality assurance and program improvement system.
This system improved the design and accountability of the delivery of community-based services to individuals transitioning out of institutions.
Fostering Shared Services Among Public Health Agencies
We used an HCD approach to understand how state, tribal, local, and territorial entities can incorporate shared services into their information technology strategy.
After working with partners to map shared services and explore their experiences, we tested concepts to identify the most desirable and feasible components of a shared services initiative.
EVIDENCE & INSIGHTS
Project
Partners for Reentry Opportunities in Workforce Development
The PROWD Grants Evaluation aims to understand the implementation and impact of reentry employment programs that aim to help people preparing to exit federal prisons find and maintain good jobs after release.
Learn more
Project
North Carolina Transitions to Community Living Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement
Project
Electronic Clinical Quality Measures Development and Maintenance for Eligible Clinicians (EC eCQM)
Related Staff
Benjamin Fischer
Senior Managing Consultant; Co-Lead, Health Human-Centered Design Practice
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Amy Wodarek O’Reilly
Principal Managing Consultant; Co-Lead, Health Human-Centered Design Practice
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Related Solutions
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