I’m a product designer and want to learn how to design services, how do I do it?
Most people entering the world of service design come from product design. They studied industrial design, design engineering, or similar design forms oriented toward physical objects. Ten years ago, there were no undergraduate programs in service design, strategic design, or experience design in Latin America.
Key Differences Between Product and Service Design
Products are produced, while services are executed. If you follow the logic of “design, plan, produce, and then sell,” you’re not truly understanding the challenge. Service design isn’t about following instructions, but about creating valuable relationships and experiences.
The New Role of a Service Designer
Your role will change dramatically. You won’t be an “author” of the service you design. Service designers don’t sign their creations like product designers. Their role is to support agreement creation, using methodology and research to help people involved in the service make decisions.
A Collaborative Process
Service design is absolutely collaborative. For example, in an educational institution, the service designer:
- Investigates trends
- Talks to students and teachers
- Explores new technologies
- Identifies insights and opportunities
- Helps reframe challenges
- Creates prototypes
- Evaluates feasibility
- Develops implementation routes
Fundamental Characteristics of Service Design
The process of designing a service never ends. It adapts and evolves over time. Each client will be different, each employee will be different. It’s not about following instructions, but about creating relationships and valuable experiences.
If you come from product design and are interested in learning service design, you’ll need to strengthen your knowledge with a change of tools and, most importantly, a change in mindset.Want to delve deeper into service design? We can help you strengthen your knowledge and show you how we’ve taught service design to many people with the same drive and curiosity as you. Contact us now.
