Which do you prefer? A service that simply gets the job done.


Or... a service that not only gets the job done but also helps you express your values and identity.


If you choose the second option, you're in for a treat. This week's episode is all about decoding the design of meaningful services.


But first, let's take a moment to acknowledge that the things we buy often reflect our values.


Some of the most successful products allow us to express our identity through them, like driving a Tesla, wearing Havaianas, or collecting Pokémon cards.


These products go beyond functionality, becoming iconic symbols of pop culture. They attract passionate fans and loyal ambassadors.


Now, when it comes to services, it's much harder to find those with the same pop culture status. Why is that?


Our guest, Claire Dennington, has extensively studied this topic and reveals the key: trends. Yes, trends can be a design material for creating services that add meaning and joy to people's lives.


So if you want to learn how trends can be harnessed to design services that people want to use and associate themselves with, make sure you don't miss this conversation!


I admit when I first heard about using trends in services, I was concerned about their sustainability. But in my conversation with Claire, she explains how trends can actually encourage sustainable behavior, particularly in the realm of services.


Enjoy the episode and keep making a positive impact.


- Marc


--- [ 1. GUIDE ] ---


00:00 Welcome to episode 177


04:00 Who is Claire


04:45 Lightning round


07:30 How it all started


08:30 What is pop culture


11:00 Culture vs. pop culture


13:30 Iconic examples


15:15 Where's the opportunity


17:15 Recognizing meaning


20:30 What's the advantage


23:30 How sustainable is this


26:00 Material properties of trends


28:00 What shapes what


29:30 From sub to pop culture


32:00 Traditional services


33:15 Evolution of trends


36:45 How to start


40:15 Picking the trend


42:00 Relationship to branding


44:00 What excites you


47:00 Developing service concepts


49:30 Closing thoughts




--- [ 2. LINKS ] ---

https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-dennington-a61871b/
https://aho.no/en/calendar/doctoral-thesis-defence-claire-dennington

--- [ 3. CIRCLE ] ---


Join our private community for in-house service design professionals.


https://servicedesignshow.com/circle