EXPANSION OF SERVICE DESIGN ACADEMICS IN BELGIUM: THE GROUNDWORK FOR A CURRICULUM BASED ON CONTEMPORARY INDUSTRY NEEDS

Abstract

The Belgian design scene is not unfamiliar with the concept of service design and has hosted some leading-edge companies throughout the years, pushing the field forward. The next step in the development of the field is the expansion of the academic aspect of service design within Belgium. The topic of service design is already addressed in existing design programmes, though it is yet to be a focus of study on its own. This paper helps to expand the range of study programmes at the University of Antwerp and contributes to shaping the service design landscape in Belgium. The Department of Design Sciences at the University of Antwerp provides students with extended interdisciplinary skills and knowledge, leading them into the world of design. The department now seeks to create an additional master’s programmes with a curriculum catered to service design providing graduates of this programme with all the necessary skills to be at the top of their game when they start their careers in service design. To ensure continuity between what the university delivers and what the job market expects and desires, the programmes will be developed from the ground up. The university, for this study, has worked in collaboration with current leaders in the field, providing their expertise and requirements for the future of service design. Insights were obtained by means of workshops and collaborative projects with students and experts in the service design scene, as well as building on existing literature and current educational programmes across the world.