In 2020, change is the new normal and we are embracing it as an opportunity to focus on how we can create better services and be better human beings. We have the ability to create the change we want to see in the world. From empathy to delivery, service design gives us the processes and tools to do so.

Embrace change with us during our first virtual global conference, where we will feature a diverse group of speakers and introduce activities and topics ranging from service design fundamentals to provocative reflections on our evolving world.

Renowned service designer/author Lou Downe of Good Services: How to Design Services That Work, is not content to exclusively deliver a book on the topic but finds value in creating a system to help you measure whether the services you create are working well for users. Her new Good Service Scale works on a 0-4 point system using the 15 Principles of Good Service Design to help designers self-assess quality, structure user research or track how the service performs over time. The idea here is to customise its usage based on needs, ensuring your service is working at optimal levels. Nice sidebar: it's free.  

Our Slack community is designed to help individuals connect and collaborate around important, mutual topics. Accordingly, we are pleased to announce that we have launched a new Slack channel—#project-diversity-and-inclusion. Here is where we will look to define best practices as an organisation in fostering diversity, inclusion and belonging in our community, as well as within service design as a practice. Please join the channel and the conversation; we value all voices in our effort to educate, learn, share and create real change. 

We are thrilled to announce that more than metrics is a sponsor for Virtual SDGC20!

Check out these two online events organised by some of our local chapters. 

NYC Chapter 
Design Education’s Big Gap: Understanding the Role of Power: “For all the talk about being human-centred, one very human factor often gets overlooked — a basic understanding of how power operates in relationships between people.” — George Aye.

Co-hosted by the Pittsburgh, Atlanta, and Washington DC Chapters
A Mindset for Service Design: a Logic to the Madness: The three-part series, led by Mauricio Manhaes, Design Researcher and Professor, shared what is required for a shift in mindset to practice service design and how systemic change is a part of it.

Hey SDN Members! Just a reminder that a couple of years back we conducted a survey and you said that SDN case studies were a valuable component of your SDN member experience. Well, a library is only as good as its source material and we need your support to make that happen. Now is the time to take advantage of a global platform that allows you to share insights with fellow practitioners into one of your “biggest wins” or greatest challenges. Sidebar: Your case study need not be exclusive to our library so even if it's been previously published, we would love to share it with the community.

Go to your SDN dashboard to submit!