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Advanced Service Design

About the course

Advanced Service Design is a 9-credit course within the master’s Program in Integrated Product Design, specializing in Industrial Design Engineering. Aimed at first-year master's students, the course offers a deep dive into service design theories, principles, processes, and methods. In the course participates both Swedish and international students. Through a combination of lectures, exercises, tutoring, and literature studies, students apply their learning in a team-based project. A cornerstone of the course is sustainable development, focusing on how environmental, economic, and social sustainability principles can be integrated into developing service concepts.

When

The course is held annually during the autumn semester, from week 35 to week 49. Organizations interested in submitting challenge proposals should do so by week 21.

How

The course accommodates 30-35 students, forming project teams of four. These teams develop service concepts that align with challenges posed by participating organizations, incorporating insights on user needs and experiences. Continuous supervision is provided by both academic instructors and professional service design consultants, facilitating regular feedback on the design process and learning progression. The course culminates in a seminar where students present their final service concepts, visualized through short films/animations, to the challenge-providing organization.

Requirements for participating organization

The participating organization actively collaborate with teachers to craft a challenge/brief that is not only academically enriching but also aligned with real-world applications. This partnership ensures that the challenges are designed to stimulate critical thinking and innovative solutions. Participating organizations are expected to introduce the challenge and provide necessary background information. Mid-course, they may be asked to respond to questions from students compiled by the teachers. Finally, the participating organization attend the end-of-course presentation, where students elaborate on their creative process, research, analysis, and the insights that led to the final service concepts. The service concepts, that are presented in a short film/animation, are expected to respond to the brief, meet user needs, and deliver real value.