Graduate Certificate in Service Design
Transform your career with the service and strategic design skills, knowledge, and tools to deliver exceptional human-centred experiences.
Applications close
27 Jun 2022
- Future intakes
- Jul 2022|Oct 2022
- Number of courses
- 4
- Duration
- 12 months (9 months accelerated)
Co-created with



Program Overview
Why study
Service design takes a human-centred approach to the creation and improvement of experiences by examining all aspects of a service ecosystem – its strategies, structures, people, and processes. This shift in user-centred thinking has seen a rise in demand for service designers, who use empathy and various tools to shape how an organisation delivers its products and services.
Our Graduate Certificate in Service Design is ideal for those looking to start a career in or transition into the field of service design. This program is ideal for:
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New entrants into service design including graduates from communication and industrial design, as well as related fields such as business, technology, the arts, social work, and education
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Mid-senior designers and professionals looking to upskill, including UX designers, business analysts, strategic analysts, and interaction designers
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Mid-senior professionals looking to commission service design work
What you'll learn
- Utilise design research methods to identify and investigate contemporary service problems
- Apply skills and knowledge of service design practices and strategy to engage stakeholders, frame problems, and propose innovative solutions
- Articulate your final design solution using various tools to create artefacts such as customer journey maps, service blueprints, and a service prototype
- Work autonomously and collaborate with others in diverse contexts, demonstrating cultural, environmental and social awareness, and ethical and reflective practice
- Identify the next steps to develop your professional skills and future learning as a service designer
Program outcomes
By the end of this program, walk away with the service design skills, tools, and knowledge, as well as a portfolio showcasing your service design strategy and proposed recommendations.
Service Design in Practice
Examine the practice and principles of service design and investigate how human-centred design tools and approaches can define problems and improve the quality of a service.
- Articulate how service design supports activities in a range of fields, including corporate, social and public sectors
- Apply a range of design processes and principles such as thinking in critical, systemic and holistic ways to analyse complex systems and issues
- Critically reflect on the role of a designer within human-centred approaches to service design
- Evaluate service design solutions from real-world contexts and propose solutions
Design Strategy, Practice and Principles
This course examines the strategies powering the successful delivery of a service experience. Apply tools, methods, and processes to help align design practices with an organisation’s strategy.
- Identify current and emerging service approaches in organisational strategy
- Articulate and apply strategic design knowledge and principles to solve organisational problems
- Critically evaluate the efficacy of strategic design and propose alternatives
Service Design Research
Through this course, you’ll perform case study analysis, fieldwork, observation and reflection to develop insights into how you can improve a service experience.
- Implement design research tools and methods to define a service problem within a human-centred design framework
- Evaluate and apply design research tools and methods in diverse contexts
- Synthesise results gathered from the design research process
- Communicate insights, risks, and opportunities for your design solution
Service Futures
The Service Futures course will teach you how to synthesise design processes and produce an end-to-end service prototype. Through idea generation and iterative design, develop a solution that you’ll reflect and measure the success of.
- Identify opportunities for the application of human-centred design approaches to service problems
- Critically evaluate and apply judgement in the use of design methods and tools
- Articulate a professional design proposition which demonstrates a process of reflective practice
- Collaborate constructively within a multi-disciplinary professional setting
Learn with industry experts
Dr Marius Foley is the Program Manager of the Master of Design Futures, RMIT School of Design. His work focuses on the practice of human-centred design in contemporary industry and social organisations. Marius has an active interest in innovation in design, media, and the areas such as education, health, welfare
With over 19 years experience in learning design both domestically and internationally, Joyce has a passion for building dynamic, engaging and world-class learning experiences.
Our student success team are here to help you with 1:1 coaching, tips on how to successfully study online, and any questions or concerns you may have.
Why choose RMIT Online
Get a world-class education and transform your career.
Real world skills
Develop skills that have been validated by industry, while getting credentialed by a world-leading university.
Industry connected
You'll gain knowledge and practical skills from renowned industry partners who are at the forefront of their field.
Flexible delivery
Advance your career while you study. RMIT Online courses let you balance work, study and life commitments.
Supported community
Be guided by a network of industry experts and peers, and supported by our dedicated success team.
Entry requirements
An Australian bachelor degree or equivalent, or higher level qualification from a recognised tertiary institution. You may also be considered for the graduate certificate if you have work experience, or skills required in service design and delivery.
These include any public-facing interfaces such as but not limited to retail, corporate, government, welfare, not-for-profit or cultural organisations. This experience may include creative practice, community engagement, consultancy, transport, customer experience, process analysis, innovation and start-ups, human resources, organisational strategy and design or similar roles.
Applicants will need to submit a statement that details their experience alongside a CV.
English Language
You must meet the University's minimum English language requirements to be eligible for a place in this program.
If you are a local student refer to the English requirements for postgraduate coursework programs.
If you are an international student refer to the English requirements and equivalency information. The program requires a minimum overall score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0 in IELTS (Academic).
Australian Student Visas
RMIT’s Online Graduate Certificate in Service Design does not meet Australian student visa requirements. For an Australian student visa, you must have an on-campus place in a program of study. For more details on RMIT’s on-campus programs visit rmit.edu.au.
Price
3480per course^
Program total: 13920 (all 4 courses)*^FEE-HELP and other support may be available
* Plus a capped Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) based on your credit point enrolment load.
^ Fees typically increase each year and may change without notice.
Total fees are estimates and should only be used as a guide.
Download a brochure
For a closer look at what you'll do in this program and where it can take you, fill out this form to get your free course guide