design that resonates
-
Being in Business and Doing Business – the battle between Business (Growth!) and Government (Economy!)
Much of my work has been working with government agencies who work with, or want to reach small business – in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. Sometimes I’ve been a public servant, sometimes I’ve been the small business. Through work, and in conversations with my ole Design Partner and bud, Justin Barrie about our experiences…
-
The end of the (formal) Fa’avae/Foundation Journey…
The inspiration was established in 2018.An intention was articulated in 2021. The funding was secured in 2022. The Journey was completed at the end of 2023.(But hopefully, the journey continues forever for the 91 students). The following is the message I sent to the five amazing Educators and leaders who went on their own Design…
-
What is a Service? What is service?
Previously, I have described a service like this: A service is the seeking and receipt of a specific outcome of a customer across a range of interactions and touchpoints over time. It’s a bit dry and analytical, but it has always worked when I’ve applied/used it in public service or community service settings. During the…
-
Principals talking about Service Design Practice and Research
Here are the co-author Principal Wendy Cave, Dep-Principal Sophie Bissell, and me, talking with South Aussie Principal, Adam Wilson about the Research. It’s a snappy summary and Adam has been an enthusiastic and discerning peer throughout the research. Love his work 😉 “Check out this episode where Mel Edwards, Wendy Cave and Sophie Bissell speak…
-
“We know it’s complex, but I haven’t read something that describes the complexity in such detail” The value of Service Design Research
The release of research I worked on over 2022 applying a service lens to primary school principal’s and how they run a school (i.e. a complex organisation) has given me pause for reflection on the power of service design research. The quote in the title comes from a member of both Australian and International Principal…
-
”The best ideas emerge when very different perspectives meet.” – Applying a service lens to Primary School Principals in Australia and NZ
Excited to finally share the fruits of my 2022 Service Design labour. For the past year I have been lead researcher and PM on a study into Primary School Principals and whether applying a service lens might be useful in supporting how they run schools. The research: Supporting Primary School Principals to Manage Complexity in…
-
Fa’avae/Foundation – a journey
For the past couple of years I have been working with the Fa’avae Team at Bishop Viard College. Fa’avae (which means foundation in Samoan) is the Year 7/8 cohort at the College; the kids who have left primary school and are transitioning from children to young people, and all that entails. Team: Fa’avae started with…
-
Every Good Service Deserves Strategy
TL:DR:BM* *Bullet Me Schools are service delivery organisations. The services they deliver are education services. Often a strategic direction and the school objective setting is centred on the student, with parents/carers and ‘society’ as the audience. My experience with schools and through research is that, as with any complex organisation who understands what service is,…
-
This blog’s job – For Realising and For Remembering
Hey! Long time no write! Potted History Update: I last posted here in 2018, but had posted about all things design and service design on my work site Design Managers Australia (DMA). In 2021 we closed DMA – those posts we wanted to preserve are now here. I moved home to Aotearoa/New Zealand from Australia…