Apply to your own practice
Practical Service Design
- 5 weeks
- Working level
- Online only
Overview
Enhance your skills
Build on your existing knowledge and expand your design toolkit.
Deepen your understanding
Gain a comprehensive understanding of the service design process.
Apply in practice
Gain confidence by applying what you learn to real-world scenarios.
Who is this course for?
If you’re looking to develop a working knowledge of service design and apply it in your professional practice, this course is ideal for you.
How will this course help you?
Course structure
- Session 1
- Gap task
- Session 2
- Session 3
- Session 4
- Session 5
Session 1
Introduction to service design
You’ll start by learning the fundamentals of service design, including principles of good services.
You will engage in knowledge capture and affinity mapping activities to form teams and develop a user research plan.
You will gain
- A solid understanding of service design principles.
- The ability to plan and conduct user research.
Between session 1 and 2
Gap task
Each team will complete a short gap task which will be based on their team user research plan.
Each person is expected to do a small piece of research (30-40 minutes) to bring back to session two.
You will gain
- Practical experience following a user research plan
- Hands-on experience with a small selection of user research methods
Session 2
User research and data analysis
The teams will reconnect sharing the data that they have captured in the ‘gap task’.
Service design tools will be utilised to make sense of the data that has been captured to understand and refine the research themes.
You will gain
- Skills in data analysis.
- The ability to synthesise research findings.
- Translate findings actionable insights.
Session 3
Ideation and problem solving
After identifying themes/problems from their research data all the information gathered by each team will be formed into opportunity statements.
These opportunity statements will feed into ideation where the teams will generate multiple ideas to solve their identified problems.
You will gain
- Enhanced problem-solving skills.
- Experience in generating innovative ideas.
Session 4
Prototyping and feedback
This session will begin with an introduction to prototyping; it’s uses in the design process and examples of methods that can be used.
Each team will prototype their chosen ideas and gather critical feedback to iterate/improve on them.
You will gain
- Practical experience in prototyping.
- The ability to use feedback to refine solutions.
Session 5
Implementation and storytelling
In this final session we will begin to explore how each of the team’s final ideas could be delivered and implemented.
Teams will use service design tools and methods that can support them to share service stories which can enable buy-in for new projects, ideas and the service design process.
This structured approach ensures that by the end of the course, you will have a comprehensive, practical understanding of the service design process and be equipped to apply it in your professional practice.
You will gain
- Skills in implementation.
- Confidence in storytelling to gain understanding.
- The ability to effectively communicate and advocate for your service design solutions.
Timetable
October 2025 - Tuesdays
Runs 21 October until 18 November
Session 1
- Tuesday 21 October 2025
- 10:00 - 16:00
- 6 hours with a 1-hour lunch and two 15-minute breaks
Session 2
- Tuesday 28 October 2025
- 10:00 - 16:00
- 6 hours with a 1-hour lunch and two 15-minute breaks
Session 3
- Tuesday 4 November 2025
- 10:00 - 16:00
- 6 hours with a 1-hour lunch and two 15-minute breaks
Session 4
- Tuesday 11 November 2025
- 10:00 - 16:00
- 6 hours with a 1-hour lunch and two 15-minute breaks
Session 5
- Tuesday 18 November 2025
- 10:00 - 16:00
- 6 hours with a 1-hour lunch and two 15-minute breaks
November 2025 - Wednesdays
Runs 5 November until 3 December
Session 1
- Wednesday 5 November 2025
- 10:00 - 16:00
- 6 hours with a 1-hour lunch and two 15-minute breaks
Session 2
- Wednesday 12 November 2025
- 10:00 - 16:00
- 6 hours with a 1-hour lunch and two 15-minute breaks
Session 3
- Wednesday 19 November 2025
- 10:00 - 16:00
- 6 hours with a 1-hour lunch and two 15-minute breaks
Session 4
- Wednesday 26 November 2025
- 10:00 - 16:00
- 6 hours with a 1-hour lunch and two 15-minute breaks
Session 5
- Wednesday 3 December 2025
- 10:00 - 16:00
- 6 hours with a 1-hour lunch and two 15-minute breaks
Teaching and certification
Service Design Network accredited
- Online
- In-person
Equipment
To ensure the best possible experience for yourself and others, we recommend that your wear a headset to provide clarity of sound and improved live captions for those who use them.
Tools
We deliver our training using Microsoft Teams and Miro.
There is no requirement for you to install this software or create an account in advance of the course.
Although both tools are available as downloadable apps which may enhance your experience, each is available on the web in your browser.
Equipment and tools
Our in-person training involves speaker presentations and activities involving Sharpies, sticky notes, and paper.
Lunch
Lunch will be provided, alongside light refreshments at break times.
Cost and payment
Online
Early bird (Save £150)
£ 2000
GBP
Discounted places
- Discounts for individuals
- Discounts for groups
If you are facing financial challenges
You may be eligible for a discounted place if you are:
- In receipt of benefits or on a reduced income
- Under 25, or a full-time student
- A freelancer, sole trader, or small business owner in your first year of trading
- Able to demonstrate personal circumstances that makes paying the full course fee a significant barrier to your participation.
If you are facing systemic discrimination
This is a self-identified process based on trust and a commitment to promoting diversity. You may be eligible for a discounted place if you identify as belonging to:
- People of the global majority
- Disabled and neurodivergent people
- LGBTQIA+ people.
Groups booking multiple places
Service design is a team activity! If you'd like to join a public course and learn with your colleagues, we can provide a 10% discount to help you bring at least two additional colleagues.
For groups larger than 5, speak to us about a customised course.
Organisations facing financial challenges
This includes charities with an annual income under £1 million and organisations delivering public good who are struggling to cover costs or issue a statement of going concern.