19 Best Service Design Courses To Build New Skills In 2024
Looking to level up your customer experience game? Think of service design as the secret sauce that transforms a bland customer journey into a five-star experience.
Whether you're a CX newbie or a seasoned pro, the right course can be your GPS, guiding you to design strategies that make clients rave. Let’s dive into the best service design courses that’ll help you sharpen those skills and wow in any industry!
Best Service Design Courses Shortlist
Here's my shortlist of the best service design courses I think are worth your time right now:
- Introduction to Service Design Training (Stanford University)
- Service Design (Carnegie Mellon University)
- Service Design (UC Berkeley)
- Service Design (University of Toronto)
- Discover Service Design (Service Design Academy)
- Service Design for Data Professionals (Service Design Academy)
- Methodologies for Service Design (FutureLearn)
- Service Design Masterclasses Series (SDN Academy)
- Human-Centered Service Design (IDEO U)
- A Design Thinking Approach to Putting the Customer First (LinkedIn Learning)
- Service Design: Designing for Experience Over Time (Udemy)
- Service Design Online Short Course (UAL)
- Mastering Design Thinking (MIT Management Executive Education)
- Service Design: How to Design Integrated Service Experiences (IxDF)
- Service Design: Foundations (AcademyXi)
- Service Design: Elevate (AcademyXi)
- Service Design for the Real World: A Practical Introduction (Udemy)
- 5-Day Executive School 'This is Service Design Doing' Training Course (DesignThinkers Academy)
- Service Design (CIID)
Find more details about each course below.
Overview Of The Best Service Design Courses
1. Introduction to Service Design Training (Stanford University)
This course introduces learners to the foundational knowledge of service design and how it can be applied to improve the quality and experience of services. It focuses on practical, hands-on exercises to help participants develop the skills needed to design efficient and user-centered services.
- Who It’s For: Professionals looking to gain foundational knowledge in service design
- Topics Covered:
- Service design principles
- Practical applications
- Real-world examples
- Service blueprinting
- Online, In-Person, or Both? In-Person
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 2 weeks
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 3 hours per session
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $300
- Take The Course: Stanford University
2. Service Design (Carnegie Mellon University)
This course offers a deep dive into the methodologies and processes of service design, emphasizing how to create user-centered services. Designed for product managers and other professionals, it combines theoretical concepts with hands-on projects, giving students practical experience in designing service systems. There are no prerequisites, making it accessible to anyone interested in building their service design skills.
- Who It’s For: Students and professionals interested in user-centered design
- Topics Covered:
- User-centered design
- Innovative service solutions
- Hands-on projects
- Case studies
- Design research
- Online, In-Person, or Both? In-Person
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 1 semester
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 3 hours per week
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Take The Course: Carnegie Mellon University
3. Service Design (UC Berkeley)
This course teaches the principles and practices of service design, focusing on improving service experiences and outcomes. Students work on real-world projects to apply service design techniques and learn how to map services from a user-centered perspective. It includes lectures, discussions, and practical exercises.
- Who It’s For: Individuals seeking to understand the basics of service design
- Topics Covered:
- Essentials of service design
- Creating user-friendly services
- Lectures and discussions
- Practical exercises
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 3 months to 6 months
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Fees upon enrollment
- Take The Course: UC Berkeley
4. Service Design (University of Toronto)
This certificate course explores the frameworks and tools used in experience design to create and improve services with a focus on the end-user. Through practical assignments and theoretical lessons, participants gain the skills necessary to design innovative and efficient service systems, enhancing functionality and user satisfaction. It includes interactive sessions, brainstorming activities, and project work to apply learned concepts in real-world scenarios.
- Who It’s For: Professionals looking for comprehensive training in service design
- Topics Covered:
- Comprehensive service design training
- Practical skills
- Real-world applications
- Interactive sessions
- Project work
- Prototyping and testing services
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 4 to 6 weeks
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $599
- Take The Course: University of Toronto
5. Discover Service Design (Service Design Academy)
This short course introduces participants to the foundational concepts of service design within a user experience ecosystem. It focuses on hands-on learning, allowing individuals to explore the key tools and methods used to develop effective, user-centered services. It is designed to provide a quick yet thorough understanding of the field.
- Who It’s For: Beginners looking to get an introduction to service design
- Topics Covered:
- Basics of service design
- Key concepts
- Methodologies
- Practical application of service design tools
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 2 days
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 7 hours
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: £250
- Take The Course: Service Design Academy
6. Service Design for Data Professionals (Service Design Academy)
This course focuses on equipping data professionals with service design skills and methodologies to help them improve data-driven services. Through practical exercises, participants learn how to identify and address pain points, aligning data insights with user-centered service design principles.
- Who It’s For: Data professionals looking to integrate service design principles
- Topics Covered:
- Service design principles
- Data-driven approaches
- Practical exercises
- Case studies
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 2 days
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 3.5 hours per session
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: £500
- Take The Course: Service Design Academy
7. Methodologies for Service Design (FutureLearn)
This course covers various methodologies used in service design, helping participants understand how to create and improve services based on user needs and behaviors. It includes a mix of theoretical insights and practical applications for real-world service design challenges.
- Who It’s For: Individuals interested in learning service design methodologies
- Topics Covered:
- Service design methodologies
- Practical insights
- Tools for service creation
- Video lectures
- Interactive activities
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 4 weeks
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 2 hours per week
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price:
- Course only: $134
- Limited access: Free
- Annual subscription: $119.99 per year
- Take The Course: FutureLearn
8. Service Design Masterclasses Series (SDN Academy)
This series of masterclasses provides in-depth training on advanced service design techniques and tools. Participants engage with expert practitioners through interactive sessions, case studies, and practical exercises to refine their skills in creating effective, user-focused services.
- Who It’s For: Experienced professionals seeking advanced training in service design
- Topics Covered:
- Advanced service design topics
- Expert-led sessions
- Hands-on workshops
- Design leadership strategies
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Both
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 8 weeks
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 52 hours
- Eligibility Requirements: Prior experience in service design
- Price:
- SDN Members: €3,340
- Non-SDN Members: €3,490
- Take The Course: SDN Academy
9. Human-Centered Service Design (IDEO U)
This online course teaches participants how to apply human-centered design to service creation, product design, and service delivery improvement. It focuses on understanding the needs of users and stakeholders to design services that are not only effective but also user-friendly and innovative. The course includes video lessons, assignments, and peer feedback to enhance learning and practical application.
- Who It’s For: Individuals interested in human-centered design
- Topics Covered:
- Human-centered design principles
- Creating user-focused services
- Video lessons
- Assignments
- Peer feedback
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 5 weeks
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 4 hours per week
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $799
- Take The Course: IDEO U
10. A Design Thinking Approach to Putting the Customer First (LinkedIn Learning)
This course teaches design practitioners how to apply design thinking principles, including interaction design, to prioritize customer needs in business and new service strategies. Through real-world examples, it demonstrates how to put customers at the center of problem-solving and innovation efforts. The course includes video tutorials and practical exercises, providing a hands-on approach to designing customer-centric solutions.
- Who It’s For: Professionals looking to prioritize customer needs in service design
- Topics Covered:
- Design thinking approach
- Prioritizing customer needs
- Video tutorials
- Practical exercises
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 1 hour
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 1 hour
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $29.99 per month (LinkedIn Learning subscription)
- Take The Course: LinkedIn Learning
11. Service Design: Designing for Experience Over Time (Udemy)
This course focuses on the principles of service design, teaching participants how to create meaningful experiences that evolve over time. It combines theoretical insights with practical tools, guiding learners through the entire process of designing services that meet user needs efficiently. It includes video lectures, case studies, and practical exercises.
- Who It’s For: Individuals interested in designing consistent service experiences
- Topics Covered:
- Designing consistent service experiences
- Video lectures
- Case studies
- Practical exercises
- Prototyping and iteration
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 1 hour of on-demand video
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 1 hour 13 minutes
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $34.99
- Take The Course: Udemy
12. Service Design Online Short Course (UAL)
This online short course teaches participants how to apply service design thinking to create and enhance user-centered services. Through practical exercises and expert guidance, learners explore the end-to-end process of service design, from research to prototyping. It includes online lectures and interactive activities.
- Who It’s For: Beginners looking for an introduction to service design
- Topics Covered:
- Introduction to service design
- Key concepts
- Practical applications
- Online lectures
- Interactive activities
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 2 weeks
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 1 hour 30 minutes per week
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: £580
- Take The Course: UAL
13. Mastering Design Thinking (MIT Management Executive Education)
This course focuses on equipping participants with a thorough understanding of design thinking to drive innovation in product and service development. It emphasizes the structured approach to solving complex business problems using user-centered strategies and iterative design processes. It includes lectures, case studies, and group projects.
- Who It’s For: Professionals seeking advanced training in design thinking
- Topics Covered:
- Advanced design thinking
- Strategic applications
- Practical applications
- Lectures
- Case studies
- Group projects
- Business model innovation
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Both
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 3 months
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 6 to 8 hours per week
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $3,300
- Take The Course: MIT Management Executive Education
14. Service Design: How to Design Integrated Service Experiences (IxDF)
This course provides a comprehensive guide to creating seamless, integrated service experiences that span multiple touchpoints. It teaches practical frameworks and methodologies for designing services that align with user needs and business goals.
- Who It’s For: Individuals interested in designing integrated service experiences
- Topics Covered:
- Designing integrated service experiences
- Creating cohesive services
- Video lessons
- Practical exercises
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 20 hours 58 mins for 7 weeks
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $240 per month (IxDF membership)
- Take The Course: IxDF
15. Service Design: Foundations (AcademyXi)
This self-paced course introduces the foundational principles of service design, providing learners with practical knowledge on how to design effective, user-centered services. Through interactive exercises and real-world examples, participants will gain an understanding of the service design process from start to finish. It includes video lessons and interactive activities.
- Who It’s For: Beginners looking to learn the foundations of service design
- Topics Covered:
- Foundational principles of service design
- Practical knowledge
- Tools for service design
- Video lessons
- Interactive activities
- User research and ideation techniques
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 30 hours with 6 months access
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $999
- Take The Course: AcademyXi
16. Service Design: Elevate (AcademyXi)
This advanced, self-paced course is designed to help professionals deepen their service design techniques and strategies. It covers the entire service design process, from research to implementation, with a focus on practical tools and techniques to create impactful, user-centered services. It includes video lessons, case studies, and practical exercises.
- Who It’s For: Individuals with foundational knowledge in service design
- Topics Covered:
- Advanced service design techniques
- Strategies for service design
- Video lessons
- Case studies
- Practical exercises
- Service blueprinting and journey mapping
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 60-80 hours with 6 months access
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $2,800
- Take The Course: AcademyXi
17. Service Design for the Real World: A Practical Introduction (Udemy)
This course provides a practical introduction to service design, focusing on real-world applications and hands-on exercises. It covers the key tools and techniques needed to understand user needs and design effective services across various industries. It includes video lectures and case studies.
- Who It’s For: Beginners looking for a practical introduction to service design
- Topics Covered:
- Practical introduction to service design
- Real-world applications
- Hands-on exercises
- Video lectures
- Case studies
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 7 hours
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $74.99
- Take The Course: Udemy
18. 5-Day Executive School 'This is Service Design Doing' Training Course (DesignThinkers Academy)
This intensive 5-day course provides executive-level training in service design, focusing on practical applications and strategic insights. Participants work through real-life case studies, learning to apply service design tools and methods to enhance customer experience and business innovation. It includes workshops, case studies, and expert-led sessions.
- Who It’s For: Executives and senior professionals seeking intensive training in service design
- Topics Covered:
- Executive-level service design training
- Practical applications
- Strategic insights
- Workshops
- Case studies
- Expert-led sessions
- Online, In-Person, or Both? In-Person
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 5 days
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 8 hours per day
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: €3,250
- Take The Course: DesignThinkers Academy
19. Service Design (CIID)
This course provides participants with a deep understanding of service design principles, focusing on designing services that cater to user needs and business goals. Through project-based learning and collaboration, students will gain practical experience in crafting user-centered service solutions. It includes hands-on projects and case studies.
- Who It’s For: Professionals and students interested in user-centered design
- Topics Covered:
- User-centered design
- Innovative service solutions
- Hands-on projects
- Case studies
- Co-creation and collaboration
- Online, In-Person, or Both? In-Person
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 5 days
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 8 hours per day
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: €1200
- Take The Course: CIID
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