Partnerships
Interested in significant contributions or deployments of CivicTheme? Learn more here.
CivicTheme Partnerships and Collaboration
CivicTheme is an open-source design system governed by a diverse community of government agencies, digital agencies, and individual contributors. The open-governance model ensures that CivicTheme grows in a way that benefits the wider community while maintaining consistency, accessibility, and government-grade standards.
Partnering with CivicTheme
If you would like to collaborate on CivicTheme, particularly for large contributions like developing a version for another technology (e.g., React, Vue, etc.), the following guidelines will help ensure a smooth process and productive partnership:
1. Proposal Submission
Before any major development begins, it’s important to present your idea to the broader CivicTheme community for consideration. This will ensure that the proposed work aligns with the current vision and standards of CivicTheme. To initiate a partnership:
Submit a Proposal: Provide an outline of your partnership idea via GitHub (e.g., in the form of an RFC or issue) or directly reach out to the CivicTheme team at info@civictheme.io.
Include details such as:
Goal: What is the purpose of your proposal (e.g., creating a React version of CivicTheme)?
Scope: What components or parts of the system would this impact?
Resources: How will your team contribute (e.g., developers, designers, testers)?
Timeline: Provide a rough estimate of timeframes for the proposed work.
2. Community and Governance Review
Once the proposal is submitted, it will be reviewed by the CivicTheme governing body, which includes key stakeholders from government agencies, digital agencies, and the broader CivicTheme community.
The review process includes:
Discussion and Feedback: Your proposal will be discussed in community meetings and may receive feedback or suggestions for modification.
Community Involvement: Depending on the scope of the proposal, input from the broader community may be solicited to ensure the change aligns with CivicTheme's goals.
3. Partnership Meeting
For large-scale contributions like developing a React version of CivicTheme, it will be necessary to hold a partnership meeting with the CivicTheme core team and stakeholders. This meeting will allow for deeper discussion on:
Technical Approach: How will the new version (e.g., React) be structured, and what are the technical requirements?
Alignment with CivicTheme Principles: Ensuring that the new version adheres to the same accessibility, design standards, and component structure as the original.
Governance and Maintenance: Defining responsibilities for ongoing maintenance and updates, and ensuring the new version has long-term support.
Community Benefits: Evaluating how the new version will support the wider CivicTheme community and government users.
The CivicTheme governing body will provide feedback and give approval before moving forward.
4. Development and Implementation
Once the partnership has been approved, development can proceed with continued community involvement:
Open Development: Keep the development of the new version open and transparent, using GitHub for version control, issues, and pull requests.
Regular Updates: Provide regular progress updates to the CivicTheme community, either through GitHub, Slack, or dedicated community meetings.
Collaboration: CivicTheme is built on collaboration, so invite input and feedback from other developers and contributors during the development process.
5. Testing and Quality Assurance
CivicTheme adheres to government-grade standards for accessibility, security, and performance. Any new partnership should ensure that:
The new version (e.g., React) follows the WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility guidelines.
It is tested for cross-browser and cross-device compatibility.
The new components match the design and behavior of existing CivicTheme components.
Community testing and feedback will be encouraged to maintain the highest standards of quality.
Why Partner with CivicTheme?
Partnering with CivicTheme offers numerous benefits:
Contribute to the Open-Source Community: Your work will be part of a growing ecosystem used by government agencies and organisations to deliver accessible, consistent digital experiences.
Shape the Future of CivicTheme: Your partnership could drive the expansion of CivicTheme into new technologies, helping it reach a wider audience and be more adaptable across platforms.
Collaborate with Experts: Work alongside a community of government, digital agency, and open-source experts, sharing insights and knowledge to build something impactful.
Get Involved
If you're interested in partnering with CivicTheme, start by submitting your proposal or reaching out to discuss your ideas:
Submit a proposal via GitHub or contact us directly at info@civictheme.io.
Join the CivicTheme Slack Channel to participate in ongoing discussions and engage with the community.
We welcome contributions from all who want to collaborate on building better, more inclusive digital solutions.
Summary
Partnerships are key to CivicTheme’s growth and sustainability. Whether you’re developing a new version for React or expanding existing functionality, collaboration with the CivicTheme governing body ensures alignment with the broader vision and standards. By following the process outlined here, your partnership can help CivicTheme thrive and benefit the entire community.
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