Service Design for Public Space

Course Number: H79. 2744
Course Type: Lecture
Instructor(s): Abrams
Credits: 4

If you could improve one everyday experience in New York City, what would it be, and how would you do it? In this class, we ask: What's a service and how are good ones conceived and created? What can we, as interaction designers, contribute to services for public space? What responsibilities do users as "citizens" rather than "customers" demand of designers? Drawing from my own interest in, research for, and links to, New York City agencies and service providers, we explore the kinds of relationships that services broker, and practice some key design processes and methods to understand how context of use, stakeholders, storytelling and mapping techniques shape services. In class and through assignments, we review a range of real life case studies in New York and elsewhere.  The class is part seminar and part workshop. It's not a production class; instead, assignments focus on written and sketching exercises, and reading. There are opportunities to present, and, where successful, contribute your work to relevant experts/service providers. You enrich your participation in class discussion, reflect on the work of peers and of guest speakers and have a chance to rehearse your design skills. The main aim is that the materials and exercises that engage you in this class become broadly applicable to other projects (for second years, your thesis), at ITP and beyond.