Service Design Show

This podcast explores the role of DesignOps in empowering designers and aligning design with business objectives. It features insights from Heidi Ettanen, a leader in the field, and discusses topics such as creating a supportive environment for designers, applying service design principles, developing a framework for design roles, embracing new ideas in design, and the importance of small details in design.

Imagine not just designing one service... But shaping your entire organization so that it keeps improving the services it offers, continuously. Yes, it's a much bigger challenge, yet the reward of creating a highly service-oriented organization is immeasurable. But let's be real, redesigning an entire organization isn't a task for the faint-hearted. You're tinkering with an established system that has steered the company for years, propelling it to where it is today. In my view, we don't have a real choice though. How much longer can we design services that eventually fall short of their potential due to organizational roadblocks? Continuing this way not only wastes time and money but also breeds frustration. Your hard work might not have the desired impact, causing doubt to loom over service design's legitimacy as a field with stakeholders. They say that you eat an elephant one spoon at a time. In our context, if the elephant is the challenge of reshaping our organization to be more service-centric, where do you start? Enter "The Service Organisation," a freshly published book. It's making waves in our community for a reason, and I couldn't resist inviting the author, Kate Tarling, to share her insights on the Show. It turned into a great conversation about how decisions are made, funds allocated, and workflows orchestrated within an organization. If you're keen on doing good service design, at scale, this episode is your golden ticket. For me, Kate's insights are once again a testament to the monumental effect seemingly simple actions can have. Enjoy and keep making a positive impact :) - Marc --- [ 1. GUIDE ] --- 00:00 Welcome to episode 181 06:00 Who is Kate 07:00 Lightning Round 11:15 The reason behind the book 18:30 Leadership 19:45 Soccer Analogy 23:45 What the book centers on 25:00 Practice tools examples 28:00 Understanding the word "service" 30:45 Transforming the organization 34:15 The role responsible for funding 41:30 The Gap 44:30 What's missing 47:30 Why it's an integral part 49:30 Questions that rose 51:45 Examples of Operating Models 54:45 Closing Thoughts 56:30 Kate's Book --- [ 2. LINKS ] --- https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-tarling-6b43b19/ The Service Organization by Kate Tarling (Kate's Book) Recoding America by Jennifer Pahlka (Book) --- [ 3. CIRCLE ] --- Join our private community for in-house service design professionals. https://servicedesignshow.com/circle

What does the good life mean to you? And can you design for it? I had the pleasure of speaking with Diana Albarran Gonzalez recently, who firmly believes in the power of design to shape a better future for individuals, organizations, and our planet. She challenges the prevailing Western-centric and industrial philosophies that often prioritize extraction and exploitation over our collective well-being. To transform our design practice and prioritize the greater good, we must embrace diverse perspectives, ways of knowing, and cultural contexts. These alternative approaches may not always be viewed as objective or scientific, but dismissing them limits our potential to create a positive impact. So in this week's episode, Diana shares her insights on enriching our current design practice by integrating multiple perspectives. Discover how this shift can be liberating, empowering and align your solutions with the local cultures and environments. Conversations like these help me to break free from echo chambers. It's great to be reminded that design extends far beyond familiar faces and best-selling books. I hope you'll enjoy the conversation as much as I did. - Marc --- [ 1. GUIDE ] --- 00:00 Welcome to episode 180 05:15 Who is Diana 07:30 Lightning round 10:45 Designing for buen vivir 13:15 A different logic of design 19:30 What are we missing 22:15 Power, privilege, and access 24:15 Good intentions gone bad 27:00 Owning greater responsibility 31:45 Inspiring examples 38:15 Making it personal 40:45 Roles are shifting 42:45 We can all drive change 46:45 Acknowledging your emotions 52:00 Hope for the future 53:45 Recommended resources 55:45 Closing thoughts --- [ 2. LINKS ] --- https://www.linkedin.com/in/albarrandiana/ Beyond Sticky Notes by Kelly Ann McKercher (Book) - https://www.beyondstickynotes.com/tellmemore --- [ 3. CIRCLE ] --- Join our private community for in-house service design professionals. https://www.servicedesignshow.com/circle

Okay, this might sound a bit strange... But whether or not you can drive change within your organization has little to do with the quality of your work. Often it's the (lack of) enabling factors around you that determine how impactful you can be. So in this week's episode, we take a step back from our core service design practices and focus on the external conditions that influence our work. During a deep dive session in our Circle community, Ben McCammon shared a valuable health check framework he uses as a team lead. This framework outlines 12 essential success factors that often get overlooked in the midst of day-to-day work. Ignoring these factors can have detrimental long-term effects, leading to team frustration, attrition, and doubts from senior leaders about the team's value. So a lot is riding on making sure that these success factors are always in good shape. Join us as Ben walks us through four key elements of the framework, providing insights and practical advice for creating an environment where service design teams can thrive. If you're a team lead, this framework will undoubtedly be a valuable resource. And if you're not yet in a leadership role, consider sharing this episode with your lead to create a better understanding of what you need to drive change at scale. Enjoy the conversation! - Marc --- [ 1. GUIDE ] --- 00:00 Welcome 03:00 Who is Ben 08:45 Role of the leader 12:00 Defining success 16:00 The health check 18:30 Framework overview 19:15 What is the Circle 24:45 Expertise & Credibility 27:00 Taking actions & routines 28:15 Demonstrating value 32:00 Proactive stakeholder management 35:45 Scoping & planning work 38:00 Learning-oriented feedback 42:00 Meaningful progress 49:00 Appreciation and recognition 52:30 Changes to the framework 54:00 The most important thing 55:00 Closing thoughts --- [ 2. LINKS ] --- https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmccammon/ https://www.servicedesignshow.com/team_health_check_framework/ ⁠ --- [ 3. CIRCLE ] --- Connect with and learn from fellow service design professionals across the world. Join our growing community! ⁠⁠https://www.servicedesignshow.com/circle

In this episode, we dive deep into the insights and experiences of Patrick Quattlebaum, co-founder of the renowned service design agency Harmonic Design. With Harmonic's recent 5th anniversary, I seized the opportunity to discuss what Patrick learned along this journey. You'll hear inspiring perspectives on the challenges of running a service design agency, the essence of effective leadership, and the future of our field. We also delve into the highly anticipated sequel to his co-authored book, "Orchestrating Experiences," which has become a classic in our industry, transforming how companies approach customer experience. Coincidentally, as the book also celebrated its 5-year milestone this year, we explore how the landscape has evolved since its publication and the new chapters Patrick would include. Prepare for some surprising insights. This conversation is unlike what you're used to on the Show, mainly thanks to the Harmonic Design team's collaboration in helping me shape the questions. Their contribution created a truly unique episode. If you're ready for an insightful and light-hearted discussion with one of the icons in our field, don't miss this episode. A big thanks to Patrick for being such a good sport and allowing me to throw some curveball questions at him :) Enjoy the episode! --- [ 1. GUIDE ] --- 00:00 Welcome to episode 179 02:00 What excites you 08:00 Service design cocktail 10:30 Proudest moments 14:00 Biggest surprise in the pandemic 17:00 Orchestrating experiences 25:00 The next chapter 27:15 Challenging situations 33:00 Leadership traits 36:30 Vision for the future 42:30 Importance of role models 45:15 The perfect dinner 47:00 Influence of service design 49:30 Who is your inspiration 51:00 What needs an iteration 54:00 Secret ritual 55:00 Alternative career 57:15 Words of wisdom --- [ 2. LINKS ] --- https://www.linkedin.com/in/ptquattlebaum/ https://thisisharmonic.com https://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/orchestrating-experiences/ --- [ 3. CIRCLE ] --- Join our private community for in-house service design professionals. https://servicedesignshow.com/circle

This one was a challenge... I'm trying to summarize the episode you'll hear with Adam Lawrence and explain why you would want to tune in. Ironically, of the key takeaways from the conversation is that words can be very limiting, especially when dealing with challenges that involve complex intangible human experiences. This is why you see many other, richer forms of communication being used in service design. We love to visualize, prototype with LEGO and even act things out. And what we find is that these forms of communication, which look deceivingly playful to outsiders, lead to better and faster decision-making. It's not just about being more effective either; by focusing on words as the primary way of communication, we exclude those who could contribute meaningfully through other expressive means. However, as I'm sure you know, not everyone feels comfortable with these alternative forms of communication, even though they are more effective and inclusive. Many organizations crave certainty, logic, and definitive answers, leaving little room for ambiguity. This brings us back to the conversation with Adam. We delve into why non-designers hesitate to embrace richer forms of communication and the fears and anxieties associated with it. And how can we lead by example to create a pull effect rather than imposing our methods dogmatically onto others. So, all in all, we cover a lot of ground in a conversation where we advocate for using fewer words :) A standout message for me was when Adam said that the riskiest thing a business can do is stick to the status quo. Enjoy the episode, and keep making a positive impact. --- [ 1. GUIDE ] --- 00:00 Welcome to episode 178 06:30 Who is Adam 08:30 Lightning round 12:00 Implicit vs explicit design 17:00 The limitation of words 20:00 It's just faster 23:00 Using richer data 27:30 The tension in design 32:00 Investigative rehearsal 34:00 Subjective value 37:15 Do we get it 39:45 What's stopping us 41:45 Increasing the odds 46:00 Pull vs push change 50:30 Common objections 53:00 Creating a safe space 59:00 Things are changing 1:00:30 Call to action 1:01:30 Closing thoughts --- [ 2. LINKS ] --- * https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamstjohnlawrence/ * http://globaljams.org * https://www.cocreationschool.com * This is Service Design Thinking (book) - https://amzn.to/3NdT0gx * This Is Service Design Doing (book) - https://amzn.to/3qY6zco --- [ 3. CIRCLE ] --- Join our private community for in-house service design professionals. https://servicedesignshow.com/circle

Which do you prefer? A service that simply gets the job done. Or... a service that not only gets the job done but also helps you express your values and identity. If you choose the second option, you're in for a treat. This week's episode is all about decoding the design of meaningful services. But first, let's take a moment to acknowledge that the things we buy often reflect our values. Some of the most successful products allow us to express our identity through them, like driving a Tesla, wearing Havaianas, or collecting Pokémon cards. These products go beyond functionality, becoming iconic symbols of pop culture. They attract passionate fans and loyal ambassadors. Now, when it comes to services, it's much harder to find those with the same pop culture status. Why is that? Our guest, Claire Dennington, has extensively studied this topic and reveals the key: trends. Yes, trends can be a design material for creating services that add meaning and joy to people's lives. So if you want to learn how trends can be harnessed to design services that people want to use and associate themselves with, make sure you don't miss this conversation! I admit when I first heard about using trends in services, I was concerned about their sustainability. But in my conversation with Claire, she explains how trends can actually encourage sustainable behavior, particularly in the realm of services. Enjoy the episode and keep making a positive impact. - Marc --- [ 1. GUIDE ] --- 00:00 Welcome to episode 177 04:00 Who is Claire 04:45 Lightning round 07:30 How it all started 08:30 What is pop culture 11:00 Culture vs. pop culture 13:30 Iconic examples 15:15 Where's the opportunity 17:15 Recognizing meaning 20:30 What's the advantage 23:30 How sustainable is this 26:00 Material properties of trends 28:00 What shapes what 29:30 From sub to pop culture 32:00 Traditional services 33:15 Evolution of trends 36:45 How to start 40:15 Picking the trend 42:00 Relationship to branding 44:00 What excites you 47:00 Developing service concepts 49:30 Closing thoughts --- [ 2. LINKS ] --- https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-dennington-a61871b/ https://aho.no/en/calendar/doctoral-thesis-defence-claire-dennington --- [ 3. CIRCLE ] --- Join our private community for in-house service design professionals. https://servicedesignshow.com/circle

We must have him on the Show... That's what crossed my mind when I came across Jaryn Miller's recent LinkedIn post. Jaryn is the service design manager at Headspace Health. You might know Headspace from their popular meditation and mindfulness app, but these days they do a lot more. So I reached out to Jaryn with an invitation, and luckily, he said accepted. Our conversation took us on a profound personal journey. It became clear that Jaryn is on a mission—a mission to foster inclusivity and equity within the healthcare system in the USA, leveraging the power of design to do so. A critical challenge we face as a community is that, often unconsciously, we are still designing for "the majority." This approach has harsh consequences, as individuals who fall outside the average user profile feel unrecognized in the system or, worse, experience harm. It’s our responsibility to change this. Yet, advocating for change is not enough. We must put in the effort and summon the courage to resist the path of least resistance. If this seems daunting, I totally get it, but rest assured. In this episode, Jaryn shares practical steps you can integrate into your daily design practice to promote inclusivity. While our conversation primarily focuses on the US healthcare system, the insights shared hold relevance for any environment where inequalities persist. This is a must-watch episode for those seeking to deepen their awareness of the (unintended) consequences of the services we design. I'll admit that discussing important yet weighty topics such as racism and systemic harm is not always easy. I'm grateful to Jaryn for guiding us through this dialogue. Enjoy the episode and continue making a positive impact. - Marc --- [ 1. GUIDE ] --- 00:00 Welcome to episode 176 05:00 Who is Jaryn 07:00 Lightning round 09:45 What do we need to know 11:15 Jaryn's story 15:30 How did we get here 17:30 Manifestation of disparities 19:45 The role of design 22:00 Being the other 25:00 The north star 27:15 Small things you can do 30:00 Biggest objection 33:00 Importance of leadership 34:30 What success looks like 37:00 Think of the inverse 40:00 Personal journey 43:45 The vision 47:00 Building community 48:30 Closing thoughts --- [ 2. LINKS ] --- * https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarynmiller/ --- [ 3. CIRCLE ] --- The service design team you wish you had around you each and every day. https://www.servicedesignshow.com/circle

How can you enhance your collaboration skills? One of the charms of service design is that you always need to involve people from many different disciplines to achieve meaningful outcomes. And as the challenges that you're working on become increasingly complex, effective collaboration becomes more crucial than ever. However, not all forms of collaboration are created equal... Understanding the differences between them can make the distinction between a smooth journey with great results and a road filled with difficulties and frustration. You may have come across terms like interdisciplinarity, multidisciplinarity, or even transdisciplinarity within the context of service design. These concepts represent different ways of working together, and chances are you are already engaged in one of them, whether consciously or not. To shed light on these concepts, I had the opportunity to learn from Elrica Degirmen, our guest in this week's episode. Elrica explains the significant differences between these terms, and in our discussion, we strive to clarify them in simple terms. Because when you understand the strengths and weaknesses of each approach enables you to become a more effective collaborator, equipped with the knowledge to navigate various situations. So, are you curious about the benefits of working in a multidisciplinary team? Wondering when a transdisciplinary approach is most appropriate? Interested in transitioning from an interdisciplinary to a multidisciplinary way of working? It might feel a bit like we're geeking out on service design terminology but I guess sometimes that's totally fine and even helpful :) Enjoy! - Marc --- [ 1. GUIDE ] --- 00:00 Welcome 03:30 Why this topic 04:30 Three definitions 08:00 Why does it matter 09:30 Picking the right one 13:00 Moving into transdisciplinarity 16:00 Putting it into practice 18:30 The roadblocks 21:30 First step 25:45 Finding the time 28:30 Beyond service design 35:30 New insights 37:15 Lesson learned 39:15 Closing thoughts --- [ 2. LINKS ] --- https://www.linkedin.com/in/elrica-feride-degirmen/ Original research paper (PDF): https://go.servicedesignshow.com/ixfx0 --- [ 3. CIRCLE ] --- Connect with and learn from fellow service designers across the globe. Join our growing community! ⁠https://www.servicedesignshow.com/circle

Is design facing a leadership crisis? If you’re nodding in agreement, you’re not alone. As service design professionals, we know the power of our craft to create meaningful change. Yet, we often struggle to find the support necessary that allows us to have a long-lasting impact. And when those around us in leadership roles fail to advocate for the value of design, progress stagnates, and burnout becomes all too common. But here’s the good news. You can lead the change today, regardless of your job title or position. So, how do you start leading in an authentic way that aligns with your values and the realities of business? Our latest guest, Sarah Clearwater, interviewed design leaders to find out. She shares her insights in this week's episode with us. If you want to grow the impact design has on your organization and are tired of waiting for others to pick up the torch, tune in to this conversation! Yes, taking on a leadership role can be daunting. But what’s the alternative… Keep pushing for positive change! - Marc --- [ 1. GUIDE ] --- 00:00 Welcome to episode 175 05:15 Who is Sarah 06:45 Lightning Round 09:00 What is Design Leadership 10:15 What is the status quo 14:15 Practice vs functional leadership 17:45 How did we get here 21:00 Being context-aware 25:00 The lightbulb moment 26:30 Reflection is a key practice 31:15 Limiting biases 33:00 How does leadership manifest 35:30 When the interplay breaks down 36:30 Maturing beyond the craft 40:15 Go where the energy is 43:00 Setting boundaries 46:30 Growing in increments 47:15 Understanding our position 49:15 The quality of our stories 53:30 You have the potential to lead 56:00 The absence of leadership 58:30 Direction rather than a destination 59:30 Why not start today --- [ 2. LINKS ] --- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahclearwater/ https://go.servicedesignshow.com/design_leadership_report --- [ 3. CIRCLE ] --- Join our private community for in-house service design professionals. https://www.servicedesignshow.com/circle