'Practitioner Curriculum' or 'Masterclasses Series'? Choosing the SDN Accreditation course that suits you best
- SDN Academy
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
Professional education is indisputably seen as a key to advancing your career. It opens doors for progression within your own employer, or helps you stand out amongst peers in the job market. The SDN Academy is here to support you, with two distinct courses:
The Practitioner Curriculum, for starting service designers, which delivers Practitioner Accreditation
The Masterclasses Series, for experienced service designers, which delivers Professional Accreditation
Both online courses offer distinct paths tailored to different experience levels and career goals. Understanding their differences will help you choose the course that fits your current skills and future ambitions.
Discover the 'Practitioner Curriculum' course
The Practitioner Curriculum is ideal for those newer to service design or looking to formalize their foundational knowledge. It focuses on core principles and practical skills needed to deliver effective service design projects.
Course content highlights
Fundamental service design tools and methods
The curriculum introduces essential techniques such as journey mapping, stakeholder analysis, and prototyping.
Service design project basics It covers how to plan, execute, and evaluate service design projects efficiently.
Client engagement and communication
Participants learn how to work with clients and teams to ensure successful outcomes.
Hands-on exercises
The course includes practical assignments that build confidence and competence.
Who should choose this course?
Beginners or those with limited service design experience
Professionals transitioning from related fields like UX
Individuals seeking a structured introduction to service design
Those wanting to build a solid foundation before advancing to higher levels
The course detailed on the provided page features a structured curriculum aimed at exploring various facets of the practitioner's role in the field.
Course length
The course is designed to be completed in approximately 6 weeks.
Course structure
The curriculum is organized into several key modules, each concentrating on different competencies and skills essential for practitioners. The modules generally include:
Core concepts and foundational knowledge
Practical applications and real-world scenarios
Assessment and evaluation techniques
Advanced topics for specialized learning
In summary, the course highlights a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, promoting a thorough understanding of the practitioner's role.
Understanding the 'Masterclasses Series'
The Professional Accreditation course is designed for those who already have some experience in service design and want to deepen their expertise. It focuses on advanced concepts and practical applications, helping participants refine their skills and potentially prepare for leadership roles.
Course content highlights
Advanced service design methods
The course covers sophisticated tools and techniques that go beyond the basics, enabling participants to tackle complex service challenges.
Eight topical deep-dives over eight weeks
Each week-long module of the eight-week course is dedicated to a specific topic relevant for today's practice of service design: Driving Strategy and Creating Value, Designing Ventures: Innovation and Start-ups, Mastering Creative Facilitation, Prototyping and Successful Implementation, Designing Services with AI, Leading Teams and Organizational Change, Systems Thinking and Designing for Sustainability, Pitching, Selling and Getting Buy-In.
Real-world case studies and SDN resources
Participants analyze detailed examples from various industries, learning how to apply theory in practice. In addition, the course makes use of the vast resources of the SDN, including Touchpoint articles and conference videos.
Collaborative sessions and individual feedback
Interactive sessions with each trainer encourage peer learning, which can be valuable for professional growth. In addition, trainers provide personal feedback on all assignments.
Who should choose this course?
Service designers with 2+ years of experience. In addition, those with significant career experience in related disciplines (such as UX or interaction design, design research, etc.) may join. Please contact us to discuss your background: academy@service-design-network.org.
Those aiming for senior or leadership roles, or otherwise seeking career advancement
Those interested in strategic and innovative aspects of service design
Individuals looking to take on new challenges that require specialized skills
Course length
The course is eight weeks long, with a break week typically taking place halfway.
Course structure
Each module consists of the following components:
A 90-minute lecture from an expert in the topic
Supplemental reading from the SDN's resources
A quiz
An assignment which can be completed individually
In addition, many modules contain Guest Expert lectures by thought leaders in the field.
Comparing the two courses side-by-side
Aspect | 'Practitioner Curriculum' (Practitioner Accreditation) | 'Masterclasses Series' (Professional Accreditation) |
|---|---|---|
Experience level | Beginner to early career, or career transitioner | Intermediate to advanced, or advanced career transitioner |
Focus | Core skills and techniques, service design fundamentals | Advanced methods, strategy and topical deep-dives |
Career outcome | Entry-level roles, skills expansion and transition to service design | Senior roles, career advancement, strategic positions |
Trainers | Experienced lead trainer plus guest experts | Lead trainer, module-specific trainers and guest experts |
Duration and format | 6 weeks, live online Zoom sessions | 8 weeks, live online Zoom sessions |
Making the right choice for your career
Choosing between these courses depends on your current skills and where you want to go professionally. If you already have hands-on experience and want to move into leadership or strategic roles, the Professional Accreditation offers the depth and challenge you need. On the other hand, if you are new to service design or want to solidify your basics, the Practitioner Accreditation provides a clear, practical path.
Next steps to get started
Visit the course pages to learn more in detail about each course, and discover the dates of the next edition:
Remember to enroll early, as each course typically sells-out prior to the start-date!
