Service Design Perspectives (3/3) - Future of Service Design and Systems Thinking

[@irichardgunther]

I loved this take on how systems thinking can elevate service design. One point that really resonated is how tools like service blueprints and journey maps help simplify complexity-they’re such powerful starting points. But I think there’s an opportunity to go even deeper. Frameworks like Stafford Beer’s Viable Systems Model (VSM) are packed with ideas like recursiveness-where every part of a system mirrors the whole. It’s the kind of thinking that could transform service design for AI, smart homes, or even policy-driven services. The challenge? VSM and similar frameworks can feel dense and out of reach for most people. If we can make these ideas more accessible-dropping the jargon, using relatable metaphors-I think we could unlock new ways to design services that are smarter, more adaptive, and truly human-centered. Curious to hear: how do you think we can make systems thinking more practical for service design?