DGN2310 · Service design studio

Overview

This unit introduces human-centred design methodologies to help you understand, visualise, and design services and systems. Service designers play a pivotal role in driving innovation in today’s complex, interconnected world. Grounded in the fourth order of design (Buchanan, 1992) - which emphasises creating environments and systems that support all other forms of design - this unit explores methods to navigate and shape intricate, often intangible, services and systems. Key tools such as system maps, service blueprints, and customer journey maps will enable you to map, communicate, and refine ideas effectively. Through an interdisciplinary approach, you will combine field-based research, co-creation techniques, and participant engagement to evaluate impact and foster social and service innovation. Projects will cover a range of impact areas, resulting in the design of meaningful experiences, artefacts, and environments within broader systems.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

100% in-semester assessment

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Recognise, analyse and apply the elements and principles of service design;
2. Understand the nature of the service design process and apply methodical steps in your own projects;
3. Understand core concepts of manipulating the diverse creative elements of object / graphics / media and space to convey shared meanings;
4. Understand and communicate a range of techniques to exemplify service system design outcomes.

Workload

12 hours per week including 3 contact hours plus 9 hours of independent study.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.