What you'll learn
An 6-module, online accreditation course covering a solid foundation for the service design practice, including theoretical foundations, methodological skills and practical experience
Gain industry-recognized accreditation
Participants who successfully complete the course are eligible to receive a 2-year SDN Practitioner Accreditation, a value of €460.
Practitioner Accreditation is part of the Service Design Networks Accreditation program, which recognizes the achievements of service designers and is the only accreditation program of its type.
Practitioner accreditation is our entry level of accreditation, and suits those starting their service design career. Interested in securing this accreditation? Successful completion of the Practitioner Curriculum course automatically grants this accreditation level, contingent on completing a quiz and self-assessment.
of learning
in online
live sessions
sessions next to the modules for individual and group coaching
of individual work and self-study, comprised of curated supplemental materials
of assignments and group work
Why join this course?
A series of Masterclasses designed around you
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A modular approach
Our course is designed in distinct modules, allowing you to build your skills step-by-step. Each module tackles a critical aspect of service design, from foundational concepts to advanced techniques, making it easier for you to learn at a manageable pace. This structured approach enables you to progressively apply your knowledge, ensuring each new skill builds seamlessly on the last.
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Value for money
The course format exposes you to lectures, self-study, team and assignment work, yet can still fit in alongside your day-to-day work. Practitioner Accreditation (a value of €460) and a two-year SDN membership (a value of €360) are included in the course fee. All of this from the SDN, a non-profit established in 2004 which supports the global service design community.
02
Taught by experts
Led by an SDN Accredited Master Trainer, this course offers expert instruction from a leader in service design education. You’ll also learn from guest experts who bring specialized insights from the field, enriching your learning experience with current best practices and real-world perspectives. This combination of expertise ensures you’re learning directly from industry authorities.
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Group Learning, Supported by a Trainer and SDN community
Throughout the course, you’ll engage in collaborative group learning, enabling you to share insights, tackle challenges together, and receive continuous support from your trainer. This team-oriented approach helps you learn from diverse perspectives and strengthens your ability to work effectively in service design teams, all while benefiting from the trainer’s guidance.
Course dates
Module 1: January 30, 2025
Supervision 1: Feb 6, 2025
Module 2: Feb 13, 2025
Supervision 2: Feb 20, 2025
Module 3: March 6, 2025
Supervision 3: March 13, 2025
Module 4: March 20, 2025
Supervision 4: March 27, 2024
Module 5: April 3, 2025
Supervision 5: April 10, 2024
Module 6: April 17, 2024
5:30-8:30 am CST / 12:30-15:30 pm CET
6:30-7:30 am CST / 13:30-14:30 pm CET
5:30-8:30 am CST / 12:30-15:30 pm CET
6:30-7:30 am CST / 13:30-14:30 pm CET
5:30-8:30 am CST / 12:30-15:30 pm CET
6:30-7:30 am CDT / 12:30-13:30 pm CET
5:30-8:30 am CST / 11:30-14:30 pm CET
6:30-7:30 am CDT / 12:30-13:30 pm CET
5:30-8.30 am CDT / 12:30-3:30pm CEST
6:30-7:30 am CST / 13:30-14:30 pm CET
5:30-8.30 am CDT / 12:30-3:30pm CEST
Next edition (mid 2025)
Course begins: Thursday May 8, 2025 5-8pm CST
Closing: Thursday July 31, 2025 5-8pm CST
(dates are provisional)
Click here to join our mailing list and be notified when the second edition of the course opens for registration
Meet the trainer
Thomas Brandenburg is a lead service designer and in-house consultant in the energy sector at BP. Previously, he was the first in-house service designer/lead designer at CDK Global, a technological solutions leader in the automotive sector. He applies service design, human center, and systems thinking to new product integrations and platforms. Before this position, he enjoyed service design and lead designer roles for the museum and retail industries.
Thomas is an adjunct professor at IIT, Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. He teaches service design, technology, and innovation courses. He facilitates student teams on many projects with community partners: Kohl Children’s Museum, UL, Underwriters Laboratory, and Wilson Sporting Goods — to name a few.
Thomas is a co-founder and board member of the SDN Chicago Chapter. He also serves on the accreditation committee.
Outside design, he enjoys bringing his artistic sensibilities, empathy, and storytelling to being an improv performer and poet.
Thomas Brandenburg (he/him)
Service Design Master
Thomas Brandenburg is a lead service designer and in-house consultant in the energy sector at BP.
Course fees and registration
Includes:
SDN Practitioner Accreditation (A value of up to €460!)
Two-year Professional SDN membership (A value of up to €360!)
Participation in all module lectures and supervision sessions
Interaction with course participants, trainer and guest experts
All course content, supplemental learning material and assignments
Course completion certificate
SDN Members
€1,100 Early Bird (until December 22)
€1,200 Normal price
Non-SDN Members
€1,300 Early Bird (until December 22)
€1,400 Normal price
Early Bird
sale ends in
Country income-indexed pricing applies to this and all SDN Academy courses. Eligible participants (based on their country of residence) qualify for discounts. A limited number of seats are available per cohort. To determine if you qualify to apply, read our FAQ at the bottom of this page.
World-class learning resources
The course contains engaging, in-depth content from the trainer's experience and subject matter expertise, backed up with the resources of the Service Design Network:
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Practitioner Workbook
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Articles from Touchpoint
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Presentations from the SDN Global Conference
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Selected case studies from the Case Study Library
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Content created by the SDN community
Still deciding if this course is right for you?
Who this course is for
The Practitioner Curriculum is created to build and strengthen the skills of service design beginners and career changer. Course participants are expected to have basic knowledge of service design or similar design backgrounds.
What other SDN Academy course participants have said
Get notified about future editions
of this course
You want to hear about the next time the Practitioner Curriculum is offered? Add yourself to our mailing list and be notified before anyone else!
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Course structure
Each of the six 2-week modules, follows the same structure
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Module lecture
(Thursday at 5:30am CST / 12:30 CET)
The modules are scheduled bi-weekly on Thursday, with a three hour Zoom call delivered by SDN Accredited Master Thomas Brandenburg. The module lectures deliver theory content for the modules, as well as hands-on group activities. The module's assignment is also announced on this day.
Self-study and assignment
Throughout the module, participants have access to a range of curated supplemental content, such as case studies, Touchpoint articles and presentation videos. These can be followed at your own pace. Short, engaging quizzes reinforce what you've learned and keep you on track.
Supervision call
(Thursday at 6:30am CST / 13:30 CET)
Bi-weekly on Thursdays, a one-hour Zoom call allows supervision between trainer and course participants, on the module's assignment, discussion of the module topic in general and the group work.
Course timezone
The times above are CDT (Central Standard Time, e.g. Chicago/Houston/Dallas). 5:30 am CST is typically: 12:30 pm in Europe, e. g. Berlin/Paris/Amsterdam, 17:00 in New Delhi, 13:30 Helsinki/Istanbul/Tel Aviv/Nairobi, 13:30 Johannesburg, 08:30 São Paulo, 06:30 New York City, 05:30 Mexico City, 3:30 San Francisco/Seattle. Click here to convert the time to your location. During the course, time changes due to daylight savings may alter the session times for participants outside the CST timezone.
Frequently asked questions
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What is the Service Design Network Academy?The SDN Academy is an educational initiative introduced by the Service Design Network (SDN) in 2019. Offering a series of education courses for both seasoned practitioners and those new to service design, our Academy is committed to advancing practitioner knowledge by sharing insights on the latest tools, methods and techniques shaping the future of our industry. Since its founding, the SDN Academy has run both public and in-house training for more than 1.100+ students, across more than 24 different course offerings. Course participants come from a range of backgrounds and experience levels.
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What is the Service Design Network?The SDN is a non-profit organization founded in 2004 and is the only community of its type world-wide. In addition to the SDN Academy, the SDN runs a series of annual Global Conferences, publishes the journal 'Touchpoint', recognizes best-in-class work through its Award program, supports a large network of local Chapters, and supports up-and-coming service designers through its Young Talent Board and associated activities. You can learn more about the SDN at www.service-design-network.org.
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Will I receive a course completion certificate?Yes, all participants who successfully complete the course (based on lecture progress, as well as completion of quizzes and assignments) will receive a course completion certificate.
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What are the criteria for enrolling in a course?We do not have specified prerequisites attached to our courses. Nevertheless, our course descriptions provide a clear understanding of the content to be delivered. We, therefore, encourage interested participants to read them carefully and self-identify if the course is the right level based on their background and needs.
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Where are the courses offered and in which languages?Our academy is a global initiative with the objective of providing courses in a multitude of languages. New courses (and their respective language offering) are added to our website on a regular basis. We encourage interested participants to review the program page here to learn more.
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Do you offer discounts on your lectures & courses?We at SDN believe that everyone should get the possibility to join our lectures & courses. If you feel that the prices we offer are too high for your current living situation, please feel free to reach out to us at info@sdn-academy.org. Service Design Network Members receive a 15% Discount on SDN Academy Tickets. Learn more about the SDN and our Membership here. Service Design Network Student Members receive a 50% Discount Code on SDN Academy Tickets. Learn more about the SDN and our Membership here.
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Do you offer in-house training programs?The academy is pleased to offer customised, in-house training for companies, agencies and academic institutions alike. Inquiries can be directed here.
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How do I become a trainer?The SDN is always happy to welcome new members into our group of expert trainers. To ensure we work with the best, we have incorporated a rigorous application process which includes a self-assessment and interview with our accreditation board. To learn more, please see here.
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How much do academy courses cost?Our academy courses vary in price. We recommend that you review the program page here to get an understanding of associated costs.
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What forms of payment do you accept?We accept the following means of payment: Credit/debit cards, PayPal, SEPA Direct Debit or Invoice. The availability of means of payment may be affected by your location.
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What is the cancellation/refund policy?You may cancel a course up to 30 days prior to, in order to get a full refund. Please visit our Terms and Conditions page to learn more.