Filed under: made me think, service design | Tags: design, design den haag, government
“Design Den Haag 2010-2018 researches the relation between Design and Government in Europe within an international context, from cultural, economic and social viewpoints.
Starting summer 2010, Design Den Haag will organize a total of five public events biennially in the field of design, architecture and visual communication, with exhibitions, publications, lectures and debates, workshops and documentary films.
Each edition will entail a collaboration between Den Haag and another European government Capital: Berlin (2010), Stockholm (2012), Paris (2014), London (2016) and Rome (2018). Every edition will be evaluated.
Final evaluation of the five editions will be submitted as report to the European Union at the end of 2018. This report will contain recommendations concerning the betterment of relations between design and governance, and on governmental funds for the quality of design, architecture and visual communication.”
The site is full of projects from all over the world that touch themes such as cultural diversity, society, identity and perception. They contribute to a better understanding about creativity amongst the government,and amongst designers. I like this one – a chair constructed without any industry material and no specific color. The chair is not for sale in shops and can also not be bought trough internet. In fact it is a pleasurable chair for just some minutes. Made by happy people, focusing on trust and relationships.
Although it seems they might be missing the nitty gritty stuff that makes governments sit up and listen…
Filed under: made me think, Red Jotter Work, service design | Tags: scotland, service design, service drinks, snook
A: Tell him drinks are on the house!
The notion of Scottish Service Design Drinks is something that has been on our minds for quite a while now, it was reinvigorated meeting Nick Marsh back in November and we decided we would like to hold a get together in Scotland with people involved in the service design industry up North.
We had joked for a while that it would be just the two of us and wondered who might want to come along and join us, be it from the Snook kitchen if numbers were small. But we’ve been making friends quickly and one group of them kindly put together some words for us;
“As the new guys on the block Skills Development Scotland are keen to build contacts within the Design network in Scotland. We are a new public sector organisation currently leading on a number of major projects using design thinking as an approach to change and are keen to build relationships both within the public and private sector. This informal event will allow us to start to get to know what’s happening out there and begin to highlight opportunities of working together.”
It will be informal and a chance for us all to ‘blether’ over some drinks about what we all do and how we might all work together in the future. And to be clear, everyone is welcome, this is service design, but as a discipline, let’s practice what we preach and welcome everyone, afterall, we can’t grow without forming new partnerships!
So we’ve agreed, on Friday 23rd April, Waxy O Conners Pub, Glasgow at 5pm in the library section (don’t be fooled by the library, it is inside a pub) It is perfect to end the week, and we’re not putting a curfew on it, we’ll be there most of the evening. Look out for more info on twitter by following #sddrinks or @wearesnook and we’ll be posting it up on http://servicedesigning.org/
Sign up on our eventbrite here”
10 points to the first to arrive with a tartan bow tie on…
Filed under: design thinking, people I like, service design | Tags: future gov, government, public service, service design
Future Gov are working with colleagues Stephen Goldsmith and Zach Tumin at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government to research the “now wave” and the “next wave” of public service delivery around the world. And they would like your help.
“Today more than ever the prospect (and need) for network-enabled collaborations between governments, citizens, industry and non-governmental organizations is high. No one can go it alone; the costs of services are ever increasing, the influence of governments to control the entire agenda limited, and the need for quality and greater value critical.
Technology and networks open the door to new collaborations, and improved performance, whether for the production of health, safety, or employment, for example, or for transactional services, everything from certifications and licenses to tax.
In the coming weeks, leaders of these efforts from five nations – Australia, the UK, the United States, New Zealand and Canada – will be gathering at Harvard for a roundtable discussion to share current best practices and understand the prospects for the next wave of service reform. What has proven useful? Where is the best next investment? What are the critical enablers for success?
Where is the “now wave,” and where is the “next wave” ? We would like your nominations for best practice now and over the coming years. We will be gathering these and sharing at the roundtable.”
“Our focus is on service delivery (not e-democracy per se) and in particular:
- Personalisation of public services
- Co-production and re-design of public services
- Reducing the cost of government, in particular through joining up public service delivery within and across organisations including the shared service agenda particularly around transactional services
- New ways of governing in terms of formal governance arrangements but also re-balancing of power between the citizen and the state
- New ways of performance managing / measuring impact and outcomes
- New tools and technologies
And we would love to enlist your help in answering those questions! What better way to show the power of many minds to the future of government than through a crowdsourced report writing collaboration?”
They have put together a short survey to capture your thoughts and ideas on the big trends of the moment, who and what projects are really setting the world alight in their respective field of front or back office functions from healthcare to environment and even government finance? And then where next…
FutureGov are interested in your examples of real world practice – service innovations; tools proven or in trials or use; examples of new approaches to performance measure and management of cross-organization/shared mission efforts.
Tell them:
- What’s the initiative?
- Where is it? Who’s doing it?
- What tools are enabling change?
- How do / will performance measures and metrics work in this context?
- What’s the governance arrangement like?
- What evidence is there of value – financial, or improved satisfaction, reduced waste or loss, improved outcomes…
If you take part and your suggestions are included, you will be given full attribution in the final report. ( studio – unbounders, graduates and students – this is a big chance to get your name in print and get your voice heard! )
Go for it! Definitely one for MyPolice and PatientOpinion !
Filed under: made me think, Red Jotter Work, service design | Tags: aliss project, conversation, future gov, interviewing, listening, supporting pipes
Thanks to my adventures with Future Gov I have spent the last couple of weeks visiting new places and meeting new people. The official term for this activity is called ‘Contextual Interviews’ but I think of it as a conversation that is dependent on me being a really good listener. I echo what the team at Engine think about this:
“The researcher has the sensitive challenge of conducting an interview without it seeming to be an interview, but rather a chat where questions and answers are exchanged in both directions. The best way to do this is to avoid taking notes (occasionally skirting off to the toilet to write them down before you forget!).”
We all admire those who know how to talk to people, or have the innate ability to easily engage in a conversation even in an unfamiliar gathering. I suppose some people believe that you are born with the natural ability to talk to people or you have what is called the gift of the gab.
However, the ability to talk or convey ideas whether in a small group or up on stage before a large audience is not an innate ability but an acquired skill. It can be learned, enhanced, and perfected. All you need are the right information and the determination to do it.
This got me thinking about the students and young designers out there who interview people as part of their research.. there isn’t really any information directed at how to interview as part of the design / co-design / co-creation process. I do believe it is a special skill and you have to practice and learn it.
Here are some tips that were top of my list:
- Be presentable
- Think about it before hand
- Be respectful
- Look them in the eye
- Turn your phone off
- Listen
- Establish rapport
- Be positive
- Smile
There is a nice little video from the IIT Institute of Design who believe ethnography and interviewing are how we, as designers, see the world through other people’s eyes and get them to tell us their stories.
Filed under: design thinking, made me think, people I like, service design | Tags: public services, unison
My dad came home from work with something unusual last week – a magazine called U. It is published by UNISON. They believe public services are the heart and soul of our communities and in reaction to the recession, we see public serves under threat.
UNISON took its message to the heart of Westminster yesterday as part of its Million Voices campaign. More than 100 MPs accepted their invitation to hear from members just how important the work they do is, and why investment in these services is vital during a recession.
Dave Prentis introduced the campaign, talking about how members are “helping individuals, families and communities get through this recession. They’re laying the foundations for a better future – a fairer, stronger society.”
Introducing seven UNISON members, who came to tell their stories to the Westminster MPs, he explained that “as we look forward to the pre-Budget report this week, and a hard-fought election campaign to come, everyone’s got something to say about public services…
“But unfortunately it’s not often we hear the voices for those who actually provide the services.”
And with this introduction seven UNISON members took to the stage.
Sue Warner, a cook supervisor from Matlock, won cheers as she told the audience about the organic beef and pork her kitchen serves. “We were way ahead of Jamie Oliver. Because we’re in house all the money goes on food.”
Kim Russell, a teaching assistant from Wales, ran through a staggering list of work she undertakes, including mini bus driver, running an after school cookery club and school librarian.
Other members speaking up included a child social worker, a psychiatric nurse and a ward housekeeper.
Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, thanked members for driving the campaign: “your words speak more powerfully than we ever could.
Add your voice to our campaign to create a fairer society. I did because I want to see changes that put people before profit and public interest before private greed.
Filed under: design thinking, made me think, people I like, service design | Tags: financial fairy tales, money
My friend saves up five pences in a glass coca cola bottle, my aunty puts a chunk of her wages in a savings account every month and my neighbour stuffs twenty pound notes at the back of her wardrobe. Different ways of saving work for different people.
Some folks don’t seem to get this – I know there are lots of insurmountable reasons why but it is something I often think about. It seems to me that most people don’t know their options, let alone the consequences of acting on those options. Credit cards, store cards, over drafts, loans…the decisions you make when you are young about these things can dramatically change your life.
I was chattering to Andy about this very topic last week and there are some pretty interesting services being developed around this issue.
I discovered The Financial Fairy Tales which is a series of books that take a unique approach to financial literacy for younger children by exploring money and business related themes through engaging fairy stories. Dreams Can Come True, the first book in the series is available from Authorhouse from February 2010.
“The Financial Fairy Tales will form the basis of a financial education strategy which will include teachers’ notes, multimedia presentations and guidance for parents. The aim is to promote financial literacy and enterprise awareness around the world.
If ever there was a time for better financial education then surely it is now? When you look at the state of many of the economies around the world it’s a mystery why financial education is not compulsory schools. It is easy to blame banks, big business or governments for the current climate but it is the education of individuals that need to change.”
The founder, Daniel Britton rightly says … at school, we may have learned some skills necessary to get a job, but nobody tells us how to create or manage our wealth. If we cannot educate ourselves on ways to obtain and retain our money, we are headed for a future financial disaster. Follow him on twitter.
I quickly discovered alot of related work - MoneySense is the largest impartial financial education programme for children and adults across the country. Developed in partnership with teachers, MoneySense for Schools is aimed at 11–18s and their teachers. The programme has a presence in over 60% of secondary schools in the UK, supporting students in learning how to manage their personal finances. My Money, My Rights have teamed up with Abbey to launch a new pocket guide offering clear and up to date information on all aspects of money for young people
This would definitely be a dream project of mine and with two thirds of young people demanding a better financial education it might just happen.
Filed under: design thinking, people I like, service design | Tags: competition, jailbreak
Jail Brake is a competition to find and support great ideas that could make a positive impact on the pattern of youth-offending ad re-offending using simple web and mobile tools.
“Each year around a hundred thousand 15-17 year olds get caught up in the criminal justice system. Once they come into contact with this system, many are likely to reoffend; to remain part of it and to go on to become part of the adult criminal justice system
We want to bring together those who have an idea about how to slow and stopdown the cycle of youth offending – whether they’re part of a youth offending team, a service user, police officer or a member of a local community – with people who can make their ideas idea a reality.
We want to find the best ideas and turn them into real projects with a helping hand from software developers, designers and funders.”
Why use web and mobile?
Simple web and mobile tools are great at connecting people in new ways and on their own terms. They can engage and empower people to take more control of their lives; providing new ways of organising, mobilising and communicating. We believe these tools could help local communities, those working with offenders and young people to help themselves.
This potential is currently not being realised in the area of youth offending, and we want to find new approaches to making the most of what it can offer.
Who is it for?
This project is open to anyone whohas a real motivation to reduce youth offending. Whether you’re part of a youth offending team, involved with healthcare or schooling, a community police officer or a member of a local community, or none of the above, we want you to participate. Our call for ideas is now open and we are running a number of events and workshops to explain and encourage idea submissions. You can enter an idea online here [insert link] or talk to us here [insert link].
What kind of ideas are you looking for?
We’re looking for great ideas that could make a positive impact on the pattern of youth offending and re-offending using simple web and mobile tools. It could be a website, a system that relies on text messages, a map, a social network – or all or none of the above! Here are a few potential areas to get you thinking:
- How can we use mapping to match young people to the services they need to prevent reoffending, such as access to accommodation, mentoring, training, substance misuse services or employment opportunities?
- How can peer support be delivered using online and mobile technology?
- How can the anonymity offered by the web be used to support those who may not wish to discuss personal or sensitive information face to face?
- Can Web 2.0 help get more people involved in deciding how community service should be carried out? The Making Good project is an offline example.
You should enter – even if your idea is scribbled on the back of a napkin- that’s where MyPolice was born at Social Innovation Camp.
I think this is a great initiative and can’t wait to the see what the outcome brings …
