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Course information

Learning outcomes

After this course, the course participant accomplishes 

- implementing various service, strategic, and systemic design tools in real contemporary service company case projects (such as software as a service - SaaS, circular, AI-driven services, regenerative, sustainable e-commerce services, and software services)     

- being comfortable working across various time zones within the EU and collaborating with service design and other professionals from diverse cultural backgrounds and perspectives 

- developing and delivering online service design workshops utilising digital service design templates and tools for different audiences and stakeholders 

- skilled in selecting and utilising appropriate service design tools depending on the service design project and service industry     

- applying service design insights from the practical group and individual assignments directly to the company cases and various daily work scenarios where innovative service design solutions are required    

- expanding service design portfolio with a new project case utilising results from company case analysis and an online circular workshop 

- further explore literature, relevant videos and podcast materials concerning UX, planet/environment/life-centred design, sustainable customer experiences, and AI-driven services.     

Course Content and structure

The service design course was upgraded and updated to reflect the latest developments in service design, which are affected by dynamic and constantly changing geopolitical situations, technological advances in AI and other disruptive technologies, and the ever-changing environment. The sustainability theme was selected due to limited resources, climate change, and the urgency of reducing consumption. Therefore, the course is an excellent opportunity to experience contemporary AI-formed service design and circular business services firsthand. A red thread in this service design course is analysing and redesigning carefully selected sustainable and/or technology-driven services weekly in a group of diverse professionals across the EU.

The course starts by discussing what service design is in the current, ever-changing context and its possible future developments. The second session presents numerous service design tools that are process- or customer-focused, life-, planet- environment-focused, systemic, or strategic. The third session expands on systemic and strategic service design dimensions following the lecture that examines the changing landscape of value creation at the complex service ecosystem level. The lecture placed before the digital co-design workshop looks into sustainable customer experiences and their personalisation with adopting AI. The co-design workshop is the highlight of the course that enables the redesign of company cases by utilising sustainable strategies on service/product, business, and ecosystem levels. In the last reflective session, participants present the course learnings implemented in their company’s day-to-day work activities. The lectures are complementary to each other.         

For whom

 
The course is intended for anyone worldwide who is interested in the Nordic way of designing sustainable services. 
You are welcome as long as you can adjust to Helsinki EET time.

Teacher

Dr. Helena Sustar, Postdoctoral Researcher

Study material

Will be announced at the first lecture.

Prerequisites

No previous studies are required.

Assessment Methods and Criteria

- Practical assignments: completed all group and individual weekly assignments and submitted them on MyCourses

- Readings: reading weekly readings for the pair and group discussion 

- Participated in the SD workshop and completed the final assignment of your choice 

Evaluation

Grading Scale: Pass/fail

Teaching time and location

Attendance at the first lecture is compulsory. 

Tuesday 4.11.2025 – Lecture 1 Time 18.00-20.15
Tuesday 11.11.2025 – Lecture 2 Time 18.00-20.15
Tuesday 18.11.2025 – Lecture 3 Time 18.00-20.15
Tuesday 25.11.2025 – Lecture 4 Time 18.00-20.15
Tuesday 2.12.2025 – Lecture 5 Time 18.00-20.15
Saturday 13.12.2025 – Lecture 6,7,8 Workshop Time 9.00-13.00 
Wednesday 17.12.2025 – Lecture 9 Time 18.00-20.00

Lecture times are according Helsinki time.

The study is done online. The classes are delivered via weekly two hour and 15-minute lectures. Each lecture combines two components: theoretical and practical. The theoretical part will get you familiarized with relevant SD theory and terminology via lessons, assignments and assigned readings. The practical part will be utilized via a circular services case analysis, different assignments, exercises and homework, which are complete individually and in a group, and a one-day practical co-design workshop.

Further information

This course is organized by the Aalto University Open University. Student places for the course: 20
Status of the Course:
School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Bachelor of Arts, Design

Online learning environment for the course  

MyCourses online learning environment is a tool for both students and teachers for communication and managing everyday course work. You need an Aalto User ID to log in to the course's MyCourses workspace and participate in teaching.

More details on completing the course will be available at MyCourses closer to the start of the course.

Digital workspace of the course:

Registration and course fee

Registration for Open University courses is done via the link below: 

Registration for this course starts on Monday 22.9.2025 at 9.00  
Registration for this course ends on Sunday 26.10.2025 at 23.59

It is not possible to register before the registration period has started or after it has ended.

The course fee is paid upon registration for each course at a time and it is binding. Familiarize yourself with registration and payment rules as well as other guidelines for students:
Registration, payments and rules

This course is organized by the Aalto University Open University.

Free places are available for Aalto University staff in this course. Staff registration is open from 4 to 15 August 2025 using the Webropol form. 2 places have been reserved for staff. More information:
Lifewide Learning study offering for staff | Aalto University

Activating Aalto ID and Multifactor Authentication

You can activate your Aalto User ID the day after the registration and you should activate it no later than the day before the start of the course.
Instructions for activating your Aalto user ID

Once you have activated your Aalto user ID, also enable multifactor authentication. Some of Aalto University's services require multifactor authentication.

Instructions for using Multifactor Authentication