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Re-Imagining the Landscape of Future Farming
No full textThis paper explores how participatory design methods can engage future farmers in imagining sustainable agricultural futures in Denmark. Denmark\u27s agricultural sector faces a crisis of imagination where dominant paradigms in farming are hard to challenge. Building on Ingold\u27s notion of the landscape as a relational, temporal space for dwelling, we propose a conceptualization of the landscape game that enables farming students to articulate their visions of future farming. The design game creates opportunities for participants to situate their imagined farms within broader social, environmental, and technical contexts while exploring how these might evolve over time. This approach aims to generate new agricultural imaginaries that move beyond current techno-solutionist or radical transformation narratives, while supporting an underrepresented political public in developing their own perspective on contested agricultural futures that are both speculative and grounded in lived experience
Equine equipment and relational design in horse-human intra-action
No full textThis exploratory paper examines equine tack and equipment as relational interfaces between horses, humans and their wider surroundings. It unpacks the notion of relational design within a posthuman view on design, and the long-term relationships and wordless dialogues with an Arabian horse. It frames equestrian tack as relational interfaces for horse-human intra-action. These interfaces are documented in use through ongoing photographic exploration and documentation of horses in a leisure riding context in a Norway. The hours spent in the saddle and in companionship with these horses form a situated knowledge basis from which the relationship between horse, human, tack, and technology is analysed as material articulations of relational design
A companion map for relational metadesign journeys
No full textHow can we hold, practice, communicate complex relationality in design research, education and practice; as individuals, in teams, and between different communities of knowledge? We explore the role that a particular visual metadesign framework has played in negotiating such relationality over a period of 20 years. Drawing upon cases of organisational change, design of education and research leadership, we address complex sustainability contexts, including gender and intersectionality. The paper examines how the iterative development of the framework has evolved in dialogue with the specific needs of each project as well as with an ongoing discourse of the needs presented by global challenges. At a metalevel, the exploration shows how the framework has supported us to understand, find agency in and communicate the emerging field of metadesign - with a risk of also limiting our scope. The paper therefore makes a contribution to insights on the interdependent movement of expanding understandings of design and sustainability, and, more generally, the role of relational design tools in world re/un/making
Service Observer – Technology Enabled Unobtrusive User Research
No full textToday\u27s services are complex, multi-channeled and multifaceted influencing user behaviour and experience. User research is a critical part of the service design process. Unobtrusive user research plays a crucial role in service design, offering insights into user behaviour without interrupting or influencing their natural interactions. We discuss our findings and concerns related to conducting naturalistic observations in today’s complex service environments through two case studies. We also explored the use of current technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, behavioural analytics, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to observe service users in their natural environments. As an example, the paper showcases an AI-enabled image analysis to analyze an airport servicescape to identify service touchpoints, servicescape elements, overall service journey and user engagement. The paper discusses the benefits and limitations of using technology enabled unobtrusive research while being cognizant of the ethical considerations, privacy concerns and people rights
Double-Cone Spiralling Model: Integrating Ancestral Elements and Future Possibilities in Service Design
No full textAs an interdisciplinary approach, service design (SD) has integrated multidisciplinary perspectives to extend its capability and reinforce its transformative role in addressing service (eco)system transformations. However, as both external and internal ecosystem dynamics introduce growing complexity and uncertainty, SD must continue to evolve its frameworks. This paper proposes a double-cone spiralling interpretive model for SD, outlining a potential spiralling trajectory of system transformation by bridging ancestral elements with future possibilities. The interpretive model draws on emerging SD frameworks that integrate transdisciplinary knowledge and case study analyses of illustrative examples. It highlights the importance of systemically considering ancestrality, long-term temporality, and dynamic adaptation, contributing to ongoing discourse on the evolution of SD
Invisible Hands, Indispensable Work: Human centered systemic insights into India’s informal service of Domestic Work
No full textDomestic work in India constitutes a vast yet unregulated sector. This study employs a service centric approach to explore the systemic challenges faced by domestic workers. Through a mixed - methods approach including in - depth interviews, surveys, ethnographic studies, and service design analysis, we uncover key findings related to employment precarity, employer - worker power dynamics, and the informal nature of hiring practices. Our research highlights critical gaps in legal protections, lack of standardized employment contracts, and the socio - cultural barriers reinforcing domestic work as undervalued labour. Using stakeholder mapping, ecosystem analysis, and service blueprints, we identify intervention opportunities for formalizing domestic work, improving hiring mechanisms, and leveraging digital platforms for transparency and security. The study concludes with actionable, scalable recommendations across community, district, state, and national levels that prioritize the dignity and rights of domestic workers
Preparing a comprehensive and accessible design ethnography in complex environments: reflections based on case studies from 3 UK NHS emergency departments
No full textThis paper discusses the ethical and ethnographic preparation methods employed in the initial discovery phase of a co-design research project, aimed at enhancing the blood culture pathway for potential sepsis patients in UK emergency departments across three NHS trust hospitals. Conducting thorough observations in such complex, busy settings within limited time frames poses significant challenges. Minimising disruptions becomes key, especially in high-pressure work environments. Elaborate preparation of observation methods leads to more productive findings and reduces the need for repeated visits, promoting mutual respect between researchers and stakeholders. This paper offers valuable strategies for service design researchers to prepare effectively for ethnographic observations and equip themselves with the necessary design ethnographic inquiry tools for conducting fieldwork in complex settings
A Failed Social Innovation Experiment in Rural China
No full textThis paper presents a failed experiment conducted as part of a PhD participatory action research. The experiment originally aimed to develop an experimental framework for fostering long-term sustainable development in villages by extending the impact of short-term design interventions. Throughout the experiment, a toolkit was designed and iterated three times. Results, however, differed significantly from expectations, leading to a temporary failure of the experiment. To reflect on this outcome and refine future approaches, a ‘Reflection-in action’ perspective was incorporated into the methodology. This paper explores the complexities of creating and sustaining legacies in design practices. It emphasises the need for flexibility and adaptability in village settings as opposed to relying on tools and linear approaches for fixing problems. Additionally, it examines both the tangible and intangible aspects of legacies and discusses the challenges organisers face in building upon legacies to create lasting impact
Empowering Rural Women of Olasahi: Service Blueprint for a Community-Driven Sustainable Revenue Model
No full textThis research paper explores the development of a sustainable business model for rural women in Olasahi, Jajpur, Odisha. Women in this region primarily engage in traditional snack-making but lack access to structured markets, have limited sources of revenue, and have limited financial awareness. The study integrates service design principles with entrepreneurship models to create a sustainable revenue framework enabling financial independence. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including surveys, focus group discussions, and case study analyses. The study highlights key barriers such as limited financial literacy, market inaccessibility, and a lack of structured business knowledge. It also identifies scalable solutions inspired by successful women-led rural enterprises in India. The findings suggest a community-driven, skill-based entrepreneurial model can create long-term economic resilience. This paper presents a service blueprint for implementing an inclusive business model in the village, emphasizing training, branding, and financial inclusion as primary interventions
What can Design do for social impact measurement? Bridging evaluation and creative practice
No full textImpact measurement has traditionally been shaped by disciplines such as economics and management, relying on structured methodologies that prioritize quantitative indicators like ROI, cost-benefit analysis, and performance metrics. While these approaches provide valuable insights, they often fail to capture the more nuanced, systemic, and social dimensions of impact. Within design, impact measurement remains fragmented, service design has established structured evaluation methods mainly focused on business value, UX/UI, graphic and product design assess product and market performance, while other design fields engage with impact in an ad hoc manner. However, there is no unified approach that systematically measures social impact from a design perspective. This paper explores how design, as a creative and participatory practice, can bridge the gap between traditional impact measurement and a more holistic understanding of change. By integrating participatory methods and co-creation tools, design can enrich impact assessment beyond numerical performance metrics, allowing a more contextualized and inclusive understanding of impact, particularly in social innovation and community-driven initiatives