PIONEER BIP “Cross-Cultural Service Design”

The project aimed to explore the impact of culture on service design through an intensive week of collaborative workshops and activities at Laurea University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki and the hybrid-learning phase prior to the week in Helsinki.

The project focused on understanding intercultural issues in service design and aimed to provide practical recommendations for designing intercultural experiences. The diverse team, consisting of students with backgrounds in service design, business development and marketing, engaged in a weeklong project that began with preparations in Cologne, including presentations and online meetings, and culminated in the immersive experience in Helsinki.

During the project, the students explored different cultural models. Insights from these models formed the basis for understanding cultural differences. A field trip to Kone, a leading elevator and escalator company, presented a unique challenge: designing an intercultural elevator experience. Despite the short timeframe, the collaboration resulted in creative solutions. Leisure activities, including a city tour and a recreational trip to Nuuksio National Park, enhanced interpersonal connections among the participants.

The project raised questions about how culture is defined and discussed, with a focus on exploring micro-cultures and gaining a deeper understanding of the concept of culture and how cultures affect services in the design process.

The Cross-Cultural Service Design project in Helsinki was an enriching experience that fostered collaboration between students from different backgrounds, while strengthening personal relationships beyond the PIONEER network staff. The project demonstrated the importance of cultural considerations and effective teamwork in creating meaningful and adaptable service designs.