The world is changing rapidly, and businesses need to be prepared for whatever the future may bring. As service designers, we can't predict the future, but we can identify potential opportunities, manage risks, and work towards a preferred outcome. This is where the concept of developing a futures mindset comes into play.
In June, the Service Design Network Academy (SDN Academy) is excited to welcome back Neil Collman with his course: Service Design Future Forecasting. Neil will be hosting a two-part online workshop to introduce the concept of futures thinking and its application to service design projects. The workshop aims to help service designers build a future mindset, scan the horizon for possibilities, and apply that insight to make better decisions in the present.
The workshop will cover several topics, including understanding and communicating the benefits of a futures thinking approach, framing futures questions for a service design project, collecting and analysing signals of change, thinking through potential forecasts and their impact, and building your own futures practice. By the end of the workshop, participants will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to apply future thinking to their service design projects.
The workshop is aimed at service designers, service design managers, and design strategists who are interested in developing their future thinking skills. If you're interested in attending but you can't afford it, the SDN supports financial inclusion as part of their DEI mission, so feel free to reach out to them at info@sdn-academy.org.
Developing a futures mindset is crucial for service designers to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of the future. This workshop provides a valuable opportunity to learn the skills and knowledge needed to apply future thinking to service design projects and make better decisions in the present. So mark your calendars for June 14-15, 2023 and join the SDN Academy for this exciting workshop!
About the trainer:
As the head of Nile's consultancy practice, Neil is a passionate design leader and speaker committed to driving positive impact for people and profit through design and insight. He continually pushes the boundaries of design craft, developing innovative methods to keep Nile at the forefront of the industry. Neil has introduced a futures thinking practice to Nile and its clients, revolutionising their approach to design. He also worked with NHS Digital to reimagine their B2B experience using service design and introduced new ways to enhance customer involvement in digital delivery for challenger banks. Neil's expertise in design has earned him a spot as a keynote speaker at numerous international conferences, including UX London, one of the most prestigious design conferences in the world.
Reading recommendations:
Want to be a futurist? Start by cultivating these four habits by Neil Collman
Speculative Design and Service Design: A False Dichotomy - Two examples of workshops applying speculative service methods by Antonio Cesare Iadarola and Antonio Starnino
Radical Futures: Designing for Fundamental Change by Alix Gerber
