Service designer
Take a love for design and invention and use it to build services that create a meaningful difference in people's lives.
About the job
What it's like
Service Designers use their technical knowledge to design, test and improve the vast range of services that enrich our lives.
You could be creating logistics software that gives customers the ability to effortlessly move goods across the world or designing the latest patient-care system that assists doctors in providing world-class medical treatment.
Top 3 job tasks:
Conducting market research to understand the needs of consumers
Coding new service solutions that deliver a superior customer experience
Collecting customer feedback and suggestions with the aim of further improving services
Hours
You will typically work 9am to 5pm most days, but you may be required to work evenings or weekends depending on the demands of the project.
Environment
You'll work in an office environment, as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Travel
Based in an office, you may need to travel occasionally to meet clients.
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Healthcare Financial and professional services Digital technologies Construction and built environment
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- service design
- prototyping
- user research
- user-centered design
- design thinking
- customer journey mapping
- miro
- universal design
- minimum viable product
- articulation
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- making decisions
- developing a plan
- attention to detail
- researching
- problem solving
- creative
- written communication
- verbal communication
- building relationships
- adaptability
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Art and Design
Business Management
Computing Science
English
Graphic Communication
Skills for Work: Creative Digital Media
Foundation Apprenticeship: Creative and Digital Media
Foundation Apprenticeship: Software Development
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
There are a variety of routes that students can follow to become highly employable in the field of service design.
Many Service Designers have a degree or postgraduate qualifications in specialised topics including:
Design Innovation
Service Design
Computer Science
Software Development
Business Design
There are also many relevant Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships available that provide a wide base of skills for a career as a Service Designer. Apprenticeships provide a recognised qualification and paid practical experience in a real-world work environment. Apprenticeships relevant to service design include:
Digital Marketing
IT: Software Development
Data Analytics
Find out more about apprenticeships in Scotland.
Membership of an industry organisation can also be a valuable way to build contacts within the industry and land a suitable role.
The Service Design Network is an industry organisation fostering collaboration in service design.
Find the right course for you
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Service designer'
