Service Design MA

Master the art of service design to create solutions that shape the future of user-centric experiences.

The MA in Service Design equips students with the expertise to craft innovative and user-centric experiences. Rooted in the principles of people, products, partners, and processes, this course encourages a socially driven approach to design, aimed at improving user interactions across various contexts. You will explore co-design and collaborative methods to tackle complex problems, employing design thinking frameworks to create systematic and creative solutions. You will develop research methodologies through user research, journey mapping, and service blueprints, fostering an inventive and stakeholder-engaged approach to hypothesis testing and solution implementation.

In a rapidly evolving world shaped by advanced technologies, climate change, and societal shifts, our Service Design course stands at the forefront of addressing these uncertainties. It integrates a design mindset with collaborative, innovative, and pragmatic methods to navigate and influence change. Our project-based learning approach involves collaborations with commercial, public, and social organisations, guiding students through deep research, concept generation, prototyping and user testing. This prepares graduates to confidently apply current thinking and conceptual insight to make meaningful impacts across diverse industries, from healthcare to finance, and beyond.

Why study with us


• Co-design and collaborative methods: Develop your skills in co-design and collaboration by working with stakeholders to address complex problems and create inclusive services.



• Design thinking frameworks: Engage with design thinking practices that challenge you to innovate systematically and creatively while designing user-centred services.



• Interdisciplinary collaboration: Benefit from shared taught delivery with other postgraduate courses, fostering a collaborative environment that encourages knowledge-sharing and interdisciplinary interaction.



• Access to professional-level resources: Utilise a wide range of professional resources, including contemporary technology, media labs, 2D & 3D studios, high-specification PCs, and licensed specialist software.



• Emphasis on ethical and inclusive research: Adopt an ethical approach to user research, focusing on accessibility, equality, diversity, and sustainability within various contexts.



• Development of a professional portfolio: By the end of the course, you will have created a professional body of work that reflects your interests and prepares you for industry, enhancing your ability to communicate research visually.



Course structure

This course is part of our suite of Master’s in UX, Interaction and Service Design, offering a collaborative framework across various specialisations, including MA User Experience Design, MA Interaction Design and MA Service Design. This provides students with opportunities to engage with peers from different disciplines while working on individual assignments. Such collaboration mirrors the professional dynamics in the creative industries today, allowing students to gain valuable experience in interdisciplinary teamwork and real-world problem-solving.

This programme is a one-year course, including 30 weeks of direct teaching time and a 15-week final project. You will need to complete five units and one 60-credit major project (180 credits in total). All units on the course are compulsory and must be passed in order to complete the award. If you study part-time your modules will be split across two years. Full course details, including aims and assessment criteria, will be provided in the course specification upon validation.