Over pizza and beer on the evening before the very first IRM Service Design Conference Europe, a group of passionate Service Design Practitioners discussed the idea of launching a Service Design community.

The Service Design Forum celebrated a significant milestone with the launch of its very first webinar last week. This inaugural virtual session marked a pivotal step in uniting professionals committed to advancing the practice and leadership of service design. It was attended by a range of individuals from across the private and public sectors. “It’s a small beginning, but a huge leap forward,” one organiser noted.

The Forum is for Service Design thought leaders who want to co-create thought leadership and to raise awareness of the Service Design profession.  

The webinar covered:

• Vision Mission and Values of the Service Design Forum.
• Interactive discussion on maturing Service Design practices within organisations.
• Service definition canvas, an introduction to an innovative technique developed by the Service Design Forum members.
• Details of upcoming events, including an in person gathering planned for November in London, hosted by Reply.

Special recognition must be given to the Forum’s founding members – their dedication has helped to turn the vision into a reality:

• Bruce Prendergast and Christine Houghton (HM Revenue & Customs),
• Nikita Nagpal (Glue Reply),
• Pip Hall (Telent Technology Services Ltd),
• Colleen Henderson (Sword Group),
• Jo Francis (AssistKD), and Jonathan Hunsley (AssistKD),

With growing momentum, the Service Design Forum is intended to grow in a sustainable way and to become a central hub for Service Design thought leaders .
Next Up: The community will gather in person in London this November, continuing its mission to empower and amplify the Service Design profession.

The Forum is invitation-only, focused on curating a community of practitioners who not only represent the profession but actively shape its evolution. 
If you are interested in getting involved, please contact jonathan.hunsley@assistkd.com.