The Surprising Similarities of Challenges in Learning Design and Service Design

In our upcoming MadeFor. Talk, “In service of learning: how learning design and service design drive value in organisations”, our three speakers Agnese Spona, Clara Llamas, and Tony Reeves will be discussing inherent value that is attainable when combining these two disciplines within organisations.

In support of this discussion, we thought it necessary to delve deeper into these two fields and discover how making use of their similarities and shared challenges allows these two disciplines to effectively work in synergy with one another within a businesss. We also discover that they share many common challenges and that there are similar results and significant consequences when either field is approached without the necessary sense of empathy, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

The Differences

As we will cover in this article, the similarities between the two disciplines are much too important to go unnoticed. However, before we continue, it must be stated that that is not to diminish the aspects of each discipline that are entirely independent and separate from the other. These are two powerful disciplines that have the capacity to dramatically shift the way that we learn and operate, and their similarities and differences compliment this in a multitude of ways.

Learning design typically revolves around the primary task of developing the frameworks that support learning experiences and educational content, whilst service design is an inherently multifaceted and even chameleonic discipline that focuses on designing seamless and satisfying experiences for customers when they interact with a service. Where learning design focuses on specific learning materials or courses, service design is holistically concerned with the design of entire services that aim to meet the needs of users.

The Similarities and Challenges

Despite the stated differences between the two processes, both learning and service design require professionals to have a deep and nuanced understanding of the target audience and their needs. They must also be able to empathise with the end-users, understand their motivations and goals, and develop creative solutions that meet their needs.

Another challenge common to both fields is the need to balance and solve technical constraints with creative solutions. In learning design, this might mean finding ways to create engaging and interactive learning experiences while working within the constraints of a limited budget and technology. In service design, it means finding ways to improve customer experiences while also considering the technical and operational constraints of the organisation.

Additionally, both learning design and service design often require a multidisciplinary approach, drawing on experts from different fields such as psychology, technology, and design. This requires good collaboration and communication skills as well as a willingness to experiment and iterate on solutions.

Both disciplines also face the challenge of measuring and evaluating the effectiveness of their designs. In learning design, this might mean measuring the impact on learning outcomes and learner engagement. In service design, it might involve measuring the effects and impact on customer satisfaction and loyalty. In both cases, it requires the use of data and analytics to understand the impact of the design and make informed decisions for improvement.

Finally, both learning design and service design must also carefully consider cultural and ethical considerations, such as diversity and inclusivity, and consider the broader societal impact of their designs.

The Consequences of Not Doing It Right

When either learning or service design is approached without empathy and creativity, the result has the potential to be a complete failure at meeting the needs and desires of the end-users. For learning design, this can result in a lack of engagement and retention, leading to a low success rate in achieving educational goals. In service design, this can result in a poor customer experience, leading to customer frustration and, in turn, decreased customer loyalty and business success.

Additionally, when an organisation takes an approach to either field without the necessary problem-solving skills, the solutions developed may be ineffective, leading to a terrible combination of both wasted resources and time!

When you can’t apply the skills and dedicated effort required for either of these disciplines to efficiently work, the negative impact and potential ramifications they can provide to the organisation in both their educational and business goals are stark.  

FAQs

1. What are the key skills required in learning and service design?

The key skills required in both learning and service design include empathy, creativity, and problem-solving skills. These skills are essential in understanding the end-users and their needs, developing creative solutions, and overcoming the challenges faced in both fields.

2. How do the challenges in learning and service design compare to one another?

The challenges in learning and service design are surprisingly similar. Both fields require a deep understanding of the end-users' innate needs and desires, empathy, the ability to balance a multitude technical and organisational challenges with creative solutions, and effective problem-solving skills.

3. What happens when learning and service design are approached without empathy and creativity?


When either learning or service design is approached without empathy and creativity, the result can be a failure to meet the needs of the end-users. This can lead to decreased engagement and retention, poor customer experiences, and ineffective solutions, resulting in negative impacts on both educational and business goals.

In conclusion, while learning design and service design may seem vastly different, they share many common challenges and require the same key skills. When either field is approached without these skills, the consequences can be significant, including diminished trust by leadership in these two critical disciplines, disillusioned customers both new and trusted, who may be edged closer to competitors and a total loss of strategic direction.

If you'd like to learn more about this topic and how learning design and service design can effectively unite, make sure you sign up to our next MadeFor. Talk taking place on 28th February, "In service of learning: how learning design and service design drive value in organisations”, with our Managing Director Agnese Spona, our bootcamp coach Clara Llamas, and Tony Reeves, founder and Managing Director of Ding Learning. You can find the event here.