Seminar Outline “Service Design - the Next Stage in Design’s Evolution”

In most countries services account for the majority of the economy. This seminar looks at the emerging area of service design: what it is today and what it could be for designers tomorrow? It uses the latest research in the UK from leading businesses and schools, the first generation Service Design consultancies and the alternative idea of “Service Science”.

The seminar will explore:

What is Service Design?

- How does it relate to traditional design areas?
- What is the relationship between Experience Design and Service Design?
- What are the opportunities for designers in this area: what advantages can they offer over traditional management consultants?

What is the current state of knowledge for Service Design?

- Sources of knowledge about this emerging discipline
- What can we learn in relating Service Design today to Web Design in 1995 as an emerging area?
- How can designers position themselves against the alternative view of “Service Science” promoted by IBM, HP and other management consultancies?

The challenges and opportunities that this area offers:

- How to compete against low cost craft design from Asia and South America
- How does Service Design link to other emerging areas such as design research, design thinking and design planning?
- How design consultancies need to develop themselves to take advantage of this opportunity

The seminar will use case studies and reference material from the UK and the USA. The seminar style will be a mixture of presentations, video films, syndicate work together by delegates and open discussion between delegates.