---
title: About
contributors:
  - Charlie
---

Designing Open Democracy is an Australian-operated forum of process engineers, social architects, and philosophers exploring how technology, engineering, and the design of social systems can be applied to democracy at every level of society.

We are **nonpartisan** and do not presume any single democratic model to be superior. We are agnostic about *which system* — but not about *whether a system is genuinely trying to serve its people*. That distinction matters: it lets us engage seriously with the full range of democratic traditions, including unconventional ones, without pretending all approaches are equally accountable or equally honest about what they are.

→ *For how we assess organisations and what we expect from any system regardless of its ideological label, see the [Accountability Framework](projects/accountability-framework/index.md). For an open space to discuss democracy and governance ideas with other DOD members, see [Philosophy](philosophy/index.md).*

→ *To get involved, see the [Community](community/community.md) page.*

→ *[Join the DOD Telegram](https://t.me/joinchat/HNk_UBX8A7jBPJPbAZU5Zg) — where we coordinate meetups, share events, and discuss what's next.*

<p style="margin-top: 0.5em;">
  <a class="hero-cta-btn hero-cta-primary" href="https://t.me/joinchat/HNk_UBX8A7jBPJPbAZU5Zg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Join the Telegram →</a>
</p>

## Podcast

In-depth discussions on opportunities for reforming democratic institutions — from local organisations to national governments — through technology and other practices.

Subscribe in your podcast app or find us on:

- [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/designing-open-democracy/id1492656241)
- [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/4aOBVMKFEfgf03P6mNNZdw)

## YouTube

Recorded meetups, talks, and events: [Designing Open Democracy on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqIo0VC_zHyPjzNKIafGJpg/featured)
