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

Location and time

02.09.2025 16.00 - 20.00 Zoom
17.09.2025 18.00 - 19.00 Optional team guidance
06.10.2025 17.00 - 20.00 Zoom
27.10.2025 18.00 - 19.00 Optional team guidance
03.11.2025 17.00 - 19.00 Zoom
17.11.2025 18.00 - 19.00 Optional team guidance
08.12.2025 16.00 - 20.00 Zoom

Materials

All material is available on Canvas.

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), Accessibility 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 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.

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 other contact session students deepen their understanding of the topics and finally present their final group work and digital service prototype for the project partner.

Employer connections

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

Exam schedules

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

Completion alternatives

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

Student workload

135 hours = 5 ects

Content scheduling

Module 1: Orientation, pre-assignments and starting the journey
Module 2: Building the competences
Module 3: Deepening the competences
Module 4: Completing the study unit

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