There's no denying that more and more people are getting less and less thrilled about being citizens. Voting levels have plummeted, calls to jury service are dreaded and the prospect of a new citizenship ceremony doesn't exactly set pulses racing. Here is your chance to do something about it. The Design Council and the Institute for Public Policy Research are throwing down the challenge to designers to shape those key moments when the state engages with us not just as subjects, service users or consumers, but as citizens. It's part of Touching the State, a project set to trigger debate about what design can do to improve the encounters that define the way people relate to the state. They're kicking off with user research into three encounters: voting in European elections, doing jury service and taking part in the new UK citizenship ceremony. From that we'll pinpoint the key opportunities for design to build a sense of citizenship out those experiences. They're also looking for responses from designers to demonstrate the potential of design in these areas - sketches, concepts or visuals. You could also look at other ‘touch' points – tax returns, customs and immigration, registering a birth or marriage, the whole experience or just one part of it. The most engaging responses will appear in a publication targeted at a policy audience, and they'll go on show during the London Design Festival. Time is tight, with Monday, 19 July the deadline for submissions. The challenge is open to designers, consultancies, in-house design departments and design students. Please pass this message on to anyone you think would make a valuable contribution. On Tuesday, 22 June, they will also be holding an informal evening event at the Design Council to show our user research to date and to discuss our findings. Places are limited, but if you accept the design challenge, they hope you will be able to attend. If not, our user research will be available online from 23 June. To register your interest in the design challenge and in attending the event, please complete the attached form and return by email to. We will acknowledge your interest in taking part by return email. Further information on the project and how to make your submissions can be found on www.designcouncil.org.uk/blog/red