Output details

Transformative Services and Transformation Design

Service Design is increasingly oriented toward transformative aims both within organisations and communities. The concept of Transformation Design was proposed in 2006 by RED design group at the Design Council (http://www.designcouncil.info/mt/RED/transformationdesign), but no research or further discussion or evaluation existed on its principles, methodology and implications. This peer-reviewed journal paper provided a needed foundation and a critical evaluation of its assumptions and practice, clarifying the concept of transformative services and transformation design by articulating the meaning of transformational change and creating a bridge with the more consolidated principles and practices of Organisational Development and Community Action Research. It aimed at raising issues of accountability and reflexivity in Design practice in particular when dealing with vulnerable communities.

As an outcome the author articulated 7 transformation design principles that work as guidelines for transformative design interventions and as a theoretical basis for further research in this area.

The journal article is an evolution of an original paper that has been selected and fast tracked by the Nordic Service Design Conference (2010) for this Special Issue on Designing for Services of the International Journal of Design. It is informed by EPSRC funded research work on healthcare transformation, and on research work on service design, public services and organisational change (Junginger and Sangiorgi, 2009 and 2011).