Wales rolls out service design programme

Design Wales is rolling out a Welsh Assembly Government-funded programme to develop service design in the country.

The Service Design for Designers initiative aims to train 36 Welsh design consultancies in service design methods over the next three years. It will run alongside another programme to raise manufacturers’ awareness of service design.

The overall programme is funded by the assembly’s Department for Economy and Transport and is led by Design Wales service design adviser Paul Thurston.

Thurston says Service Design for Designers will offer a six-month schedule of support, workshops and seminars for six participants at a time.

He adds, ’We will provide an overview of service design and it is up to companies to decide which elements they want to focus on.’

The programme is open to consultancies in all disciplines. Thurston says, ’We are looking for companies with energy, companies that are looking to improve what they do and companies that want to get involved in service design.’ Branding and collateral for the initiative (pictured) has been designed by View Creative Agency.

A pilot programme has taken place involving consultancies Sanders, Fauvel Khan, Stills, Hoffi, Kutchibok and Elfen, whose specialisms range from product design to graphics and branding.

Thurston says Fauvel Khan is developing a website, set to launch on 10 March, through which interested consultancies can apply to join the programme. The site will feature an application to help companies measure their service quality.

Thurston says, ’At Design Wales we are always looking to develop new programmes that will support the creative industries. The service design programme is evidence that the Welsh Assembly Government values the business impact of design and we fully support their vision.’