“As service designers we have a very special, very privileged role to have a lot of power, responsibility and influence in how we shape our companies and organisations. But it does need to be a privilege. Everyone should have the opportunity and the tools to change the way they work.”. 

-Adam B Cochrane, Senior strategic designer at Lufthansa Innovation hub 

Service Design is a new and rapidly expanding discipline. This module aims to improve awareness of the issues that determine the usability of a designed service through the lenses of People, Data and Systems. Learners will analyse how Service Design has evolved, and establish where the current ‘state of the art’ lies in relation to their own area of interest within the discipline.

They will be introduced to the fundamental principles and processes of the discipline, including Human Centred Design, enabling them to integrate Service Design practices in their own work outside the course.

Industry speakers will address topics and challenges faced by service design practitioners in the real world, such as integrating Service Design within organisations, operating within constraints, and identifying cutting edge approaches and opportunities within Service Design.

Week 1 (in person)

Introduction to Service Design Fundamentals 

Week 2 (online) 

The Human Centred Design Process in Practice 

Week 3 (in person)  

What is good Service Design: Evaluating an Existing Service.

Industry Speaker: Bringing Service Design into Organisations – Challenges, Constraints, Approaches & Opportunities.

Week 4 (online)

Evolution of Service Design Practice in Industry 

(early 2000s – present)

Week 5 (online)

Industry Speaker: Ask Me Anything: Industry Professional Edition  

Week 6 (in person)

Students present self-directed project: Analysis of Best Practice in Service Design

Professional Certificate in Service Design is the grounding module of NCAD’s suite of Service Design programmes:

• 1 year Professional Diploma in Service Design (20 ECTS)
• 2-year Part-Time MA in Service Design (90 ECTS)

This certification will be assessed through a group assignment and presentation.

Educational Standard

All applicants are expected to present an approved Bachelor degree at minimum level of 2nd class honours (2.2)

Applicants who do not meet the minimum academic entry requirements may be considered on the basis of prior work or learning experience (RPEL). Candidates may be required to pass a qualifying examination set by the relevant department before being accepted to a Masters degree programme. Attendance at selected undergraduate lecture courses at NCAD, together with related written work may be prescribed.