Introductory Service Design Resources
One thing about service design that both excites and frustrates me is that it's an emerging, growing discipline. On the one hand, there's so much potential, and we're already having a huge impact. On the other hand, it's sometimes murky and confusing. (Just ask someone to define service design!) There's a lot to learn, and there's a lot we're figuring out together.
I've noticed a trend at our meet-ups: There always more questions than answers! Curiosity is a sign of health in our community. It means we have an opportunity to fulfill one of our three chapter goals, to share and learn service design with each other through in-person and remote collaboration. I'm ruminating on how to do this better, and I welcome your ideas.
If you're ready to dig deeper into this emerging discipline, I commend four resources to you:
- The best place to start is the book Service Design: From Insight to Implementation
- To dig deeper into powerful, human-centered research on the "fuzzy front end," check out the book Convivial Toolbox. (h/t @richekelman for this recommendation)
- Touchpoint is a living history of service design, publish by SDN. The whole back catalog is free online, but the most recent 3 issues are reserved for members.
- Practical Service Design hosts a warm, active global service design community on Slack.
Originally published in the SDN St. Louis newsletter.