Interaction design and service design: Expanding a comparison of design disciplines

Abstract

While product design and interaction design are establishing themselves as ordinary practices, service design is still largely not well understood. Moreover, interactive artefacts are being introduced into service settings in a larger degree than before. We tend to rely on these artefacts as one, or sometimes the sole, possibility to do banking, to declare our taxes, etc. In this paper we seek to identify common ground and differentiation in order to create supportive structures between interaction design and service design. The analysis relies on two frameworks, one provided by Buchanan, defining orders of design, and one provided by Edeholt and Löwgren, providing a comparative framework between design disciplines. The framework of Edeholt & Löwgren is amended through the comparison, to include service design. Comparative dimensions added pertains to all areas of Edeholt & Löwgren’s framework; Design process, design material and deliverable.