Service Design Winter School Malta 2024: an international project in the heart of the Mediterranean.

by Miko?aj Sobieraj & Marcin Ch?odnicki, Ph.D.

What is Service Design Winter School?

Service Design Winter School is an annual event where international teams of students grapple for 5 days, under the guidance of experts, with a challenge posed to them by a reputable brand, company or organization. Service Design Winter School was organized for the eighth time, always in the third week of November.

The event is attended by students from Belgium, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Germany and Poland. Students are accompanied by tutors - lecturers. Students work in mixed international teams on a given problem according to a specific schedule. The process, also known as a design sprint, begins on Monday with a presentation by a representative of an organization that needs a solution to its problem. In the following hours and days, the students go (under the supervision of an international team of trainers) through the stages of the Service Design Thinking process, to conclude - on Friday - with a presentation of a prototype of their solutions to the client, along with the rationale for their design. The client, together with a jury, selects the best design and symbolically awards it.

Who was there?

In November 2024, a group of 10 students from Collegium Da Vinci had a unique opportunity to join the prestigious Service Design Winter School project in Malta, organized by Thomas Moore University from Belgium in collaboration with Malta Leadership Institute . About 60 students from all over Europe participated in this unique event, representing universities from Germany ( OTH Amberg-Weiden ), Belgium (Thomas Moore University), the Netherlands ( HAN University of Applied Sciences ), Spain (University of Girona) and Lithuania ( Kauno Kolegija ). Representatives of Collegium Da Vinci , studying Creative Management, Business Manager, Graphics, Mediaworking and IT Management, worked side by side for a week on real business challenges under the guidance of experienced mentors.

Real business challenges

The first day of the project began with an organizational meeting, during which participants were assigned to international project teams. Each team consisted of 5-6 people with diverse competencies and from different countries. This structure was intended to ensure a diversity of perspectives and skills, crucial in the service design process. After a brief familiarization and integration session, the teams faced two key challenges.

The first challenge involved working with the Maltese shipping company Jet Freight. The students, following a presentation led by one of the company's executives, began working on an in-depth analysis of the company's logistics processes. The students also took part in a field visit to Jet Freight's logistics center, during which they spent time observing daily operations, interviewing employees at various levels and identifying key challenges.

Methodology and work process

After returning from the field visit, the teams proceeded to map business processes, identify areas for improvement, and create personas and user paths. Key challenges that the students focused on included optimizing the use of cargo space in trucks, improving relationships with individual customers, developing a cargo prioritization system, and managing delay situations and crisis communications.

The second challenge focused on working with the Malta Fire Brigade - Civil Protection Department. As in the case of Jet Freight Limited , after listening to a presentation, to learn about the problem and the challenge presented by one of the fire department representatives. The students proceeded with a study visit to the firefighting unit. The students had the opportunity not only to experience the process of training new students in the art of firefighting, but also to talk with experienced firefighters and commanders. Identified areas for improvement included the organization's knowledge management processes, the training and experience transfer system, methods of evaluating operational activities, and internal communication.

After the empathizing and defining stage, it was time to generate solutions. Teams engaged in intensive creative sessions, using techniques such as “Yes, and...”, brainstorming and concept workshops. The ideas developed were prototyped and reviewed with stakeholders on an ongoing basis, allowing for iterative refinement of solutions.

Discovering Malta

In addition to intensive design work, Service Design Winter School also offered many opportunities to explore Malta's rich culture and history. Participants took part in a field game in the medieval capital Mdina, visited Valetta - the current capital and UNESCO-listed city, explored the beauty of the island of Gozo, and explored one of several ancient temples - ?a?ar Qim. As Alexei Yunevich, one of the participants, points out: “For me personally, Malta impressed me with its amazing architecture and magnificent views of the Mediterranean. In addition, I extremely appreciate the experience and the opportunity to work in an international team, I find this competence extremely useful in further building my career path.”

The project ended with final presentations of the developed solutions in front of company representatives and an international jury. The students not only provided practical solutions to real business problems, but also enriched their portfolio with a unique international project, developed design thinking competencies and made valuable professional contacts.

Acknowledgements

Service Design Winter School Malta 2024 would not have been possible without its host, the Malta Leadership Institute, led by Jesmond Friggieri , and the involvement of business partners Jet Freight and the Civil Protection Department, to whom special thanks are due. Huge appreciation is also due to the project supervisors - Marc Clerkx (project leader), Marcin Ch?odnicki, Ph.D. , Klaudia M?oda-Brylewska , Jaap Pool, Helena Leusink, Skaist? Kalininait?, Abel Maixenchs .

This unique project not only provided the students of Collegium Da Vinci with practical skills in the field of service design, but also allowed them to develop cross-cultural competence, so important in today's globalized business environment. Service Design Winter School Malta 2024 will certainly remain an unforgettable experience for all participants, providing inspiration for further development and international cooperation.

Written by Miko?aj Sobieraj & Marcin Ch?odnicki, Ph.D.