The programme involves alternating theoretical courses with practice oriented studios. The development of the program along the two years is intended as a gradual evolution of complexity in terms of design challenges and project scope and scale. This manifests in the three studios that start with a focus on the micro scale of a product design, to a service system and spatial design scope, to then enlarge and engage with the design for more complex service and social systems.
From a theoretical perspective, the first semester involves foundational courses aimed at training students in their ability to investigate and understand cultural and business contexts, to design for user-experience and digital innovation and to prepare for team building activities and dynamics.
In the second semester, the program includes an in-depth study of service design for innovation theories and models, and of data driven service design approaches.
The theoretical courses conclude in the third semester with a teaching on systemic design for sustainability and with the selection of two elective courses that can convey specific and in-depth skills in economic, social or cultural innovation.
The activities conducted in the studios of the first two semesters involve different approaches to product-service system design:
_The Innovation Studio introduces students to the complexity of a product-service system project. It guides students in the development of a project idea in the form of a pre-series of products, which involves consideration of the entire production chain, related services and digital technologies, communication and interaction aspects, sustainability issues, social and market factors.
_ The two parallel PSSD Studios focus on service systems and the their physical spaces, with one studio learning and practising service design skills, and the other designing services in relation to their physical environments.
At the end of the second semester, students join the one week intensive workshop called ‘Design Seminar’ with international lecturers and professionals touching upon contemporary issues in relation to sustainability and new technologies.
The Final Synthesis Studio, in the first semester of the second year, will then bring together all the diverse components of the product-service system. It completes the programme’s design activities with specific skills relating to business management and modelling to facilitate a greater ability to face complex problems, implementing a fully multi-disciplinary and systemic approach to service design.
In addition to the possible completion of the elective courses, the final semester includes the individual degree graduation work and a final internship.
