ABOUT THIS COURSE

Overview

Designing a service is more than delivering a product—it’s about orchestrating an entire experience. This hands-on, weeklong workshop introduces participants to the key principles and tools of service design. Working in teams, participants will research real-world challenges, map service systems, and prototype meaningful interactions that reflect the needs of users and stakeholders alike.

Through a combination of field research, co-creation, journey mapping, and storytelling, students will learn how to translate insights into impactful, user-centered service innovations. The course embraces an interdisciplinary, systems-thinking approach to help designers tackle complexity with clarity, collaboration, and creativity.

Prerequisite

No prior design knowledge is needed. Participants should be comfortable speaking with strangers as part of the research process.

How you'll learn?

This course follows CIID’s “build-test-repeat” philosophy—blending theory with hands-on practice in an immersive, team-based setting. Throughout the week, participants will work collaboratively to design and prototype a service experience, moving through each stage of the service design process. From conducting field research and synthesizing insights to mapping journeys and co-creating with users, the course emphasizes rapid prototyping and iterative testing as core practices. Storytelling techniques will support clear and compelling communication of final concepts. The experience is fast-paced and collaborative.

What will I learn?

• Core methods of service design, including journey mapping, service blueprinting, and experience prototyping
• How to conduct and synthesize user research to uncover unmet needs and opportunities
• Techniques for co-creation and stakeholder engagement to ensure alignment and buy-in
• Ways to communicate service concepts through visual storytelling and interactive demonstrations
• How to integrate service design thinking into your everyday practice.

What to bring?

• Notebook and pens
• Laptop Computer