▶️ Should I follow a course about Service Design?
The full question
“Do you recommend doing a course in Service Design to be considered a Service Designer?”
My two cents
I'm biased as fuck. I make money selling courses and books to learn Service Design and I'm teaching in Master programs about Service Design. So obviously my first instict would be yes.
But to be honest I see three parts in this question:
But to be honest I see three parts in this question:
- "Is is it really useful to do a course on Service Design?"
- "Will a course help me get recognized as a Service Designer by peers and potential employers"?
- "Will a course help me go over my impostor syndrome?"
So I'll try to answer all three.
"Is is it really useful to do a course on Service Design?"
Yes.
Obviously practice is the best way to learn. But you still need a minimum of knowledge to know what to practice, how to practice and how to reflect on your practice.
That's where I see the value of a course on Service Design, it helps you to get started on a skill you don't have yet so that you can start to get the hours of practice you'll need to master those skills.
Obviously practice is the best way to learn. But you still need a minimum of knowledge to know what to practice, how to practice and how to reflect on your practice.
That's where I see the value of a course on Service Design, it helps you to get started on a skill you don't have yet so that you can start to get the hours of practice you'll need to master those skills.
"Will a course help me get recognized as a Service Designer by peers and potential employers"?
I don't think so.
Service Design is more a mindset and set of skills than a legally defined trade like being a doctor. So if you can show that you can do the work and that you have the right mindset I'm sure you are able to get a job as a Service Designer.
Service Design is more a mindset and set of skills than a legally defined trade like being a doctor. So if you can show that you can do the work and that you have the right mindset I'm sure you are able to get a job as a Service Designer.
"Will a course help me go over my impostor syndrome?"
It won't fix it, but it will help.
The biggest problem for many when starting a career in Service Design is that they feel like an impostor. In that case being able to "hide" behind a certificate or a diploma that proves your competences is pretty useful.
But to be honest, even after years of teaching, practicing and writing about Service Design, I still feel like an impostor on some days.
The biggest problem for many when starting a career in Service Design is that they feel like an impostor. In that case being able to "hide" behind a certificate or a diploma that proves your competences is pretty useful.
But to be honest, even after years of teaching, practicing and writing about Service Design, I still feel like an impostor on some days.
More Service Design questions and answers like this one
Check out all the questions about the how to learn Service Design.
A community question
This question was asked by a community member for the second Service Design webinar. You can rewatch the full webinar for free with all the show notes and slides.