Service Design in Digital Context (5 cr)

Learning outcomes

The student is able to
- discuss how to create digital service and basics of interaction design
- use service design skills in designing digital service
- analyse clients digital strategy in the service design perspective
- work with co-workers and clients in co-creative digital service projects
- manage digital service design projects

Teaching methods

In this study unit students learn basics of digital service design related topics: user-experience design (UX Design), interaction design (IXD), user-interface design (UI Design) and digital prototyping.

Digitalisation promotes business opportunities, but also creates complexity. As digitalisation reaches to every society, every industries and business sectors, all business enterprises need to understand the opportunities with digitalisation. The importance of designing digital service that are viable, feasible and desirable is a challenge faced by all businesses. Today, any digitally-enabled service provide both a great opportunity to deliver compelling user experience and personalised digital content - but also great risks of driving the customers crazy with complicated user interfaces and confusing technology. Designing successful service in the digital era requires first, a multi-disciplinary team with expertise in interaction design, user research and other disciplines. Second, knowledge and knowhow on relevant methods and tools. This study unit addresses the use of service design in digital contexts as a methodological starting point.

This study unit consists of several pre-assignments, four (4) mandatory contact sessions, individual assignments, group assignments, weekly design meetings with the project partner and optional group mentoring sessions with the supervisors. Also, active participation and co-work with the project partner case is required to complete the study unit acceptably. Hence, a student must be present, participate each contact session and work closely together with team and project partner to complete this study unit successfully.

On contact session 1 students meet the client, form small design teams (3-4 persons) to work with the project partner whose service is strongly delivered in digital channels. On contact session 2 and 3 students deepen their understanding of the topics. On contact session 4, teams present their final group work and digital service prototype for the project partner.

Employer connections

In 2022 the project partner will be The Smart Countryside Mobility project:
https://www.laurea.fi/en/projects/s/smart-countryside-mobility/ (In English)
https://www.metropolia.fi/fi/tutkimus-kehitys-ja-innovaatiot/hankkeet/smart-countryside-mobility (In Finnish)

Students work with a project partner to solve the partner's design challenge in digital service context.

Exam schedules

The Module 1: Orientation and pre-assignments open 7.7.2022.
All pre-assignments are expected to be returned 8.9. at latest.

Contact session 1: Thursday 15.9.2022 08.30-16.00 Zoom
Contact session 2: Wednesday 11.10.2022 16.30-19.30 Zoom
Contact session 3: Wednesday 9.11.2022 16.30-19.30 Zoom
Contact session 4: Thursday 15.12.2022 8.30-16.00 Zoom

All four contact sessions are mandatory for the students. The sessions will be organised in Zoom.

Weekly Design Meetings will bring the design teams and the project partner together mainly on every Tuesday at 16.00-17.00 between 20.9. and 29.11.2022. Changes in schedule may occur.

The optional team mentoring sessions will be scheduled after the study unit has started.

International connections

International student group

Completion alternatives

This study unit is once a year available, and there is no optional way to complete the study unit.

Student workload

Orientation & pre-assignments 1, 3, 4 and 5: 1+18 hours
Pre-assignment 2: 4 hours
Attendance on the 1st contact session: 8 hours
Skills building assignment: 27 hours
UX Project: 42.5 hours
Contact session 1: 7.5h
Contact session 2: 3h
Contact session 3: 3h
Contact session 4: 7.5h
Design team mentoring session 1: 0.5h
Design team mentoring session 2: 0.5h
Design team mentoring session 3: 0.5h
Visual Learning Diary: 20h
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Total: 135 hours = 5 ects credits (1 credit = 27 hours of work)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Further information

This study unit is for the Master degree and YAMK students only.

As students deepen their service design skills into digital context, the following completed and evaluated study units (in Finnish or English) are prerequisites to enroll this study unit:
- MY00BR11 Muotoiluajattelu or A9299 Design Thinking
- A9457 Palvelumuotoilun prosessi ja menetelmät, A9303 Service Design Process and Methods or A9408 Methods of Service Design