Money makes the world go round

Money makes the world go round: How service designers can adopt 'zoom level' systems thinking.

Speakers: 

• Lia Emanuel (GAIN) 

• Alix Speed (Money and Pensions Service)

Theme: Systems Thinking

"Can’t live without it, but also can’t keep it - what is it?"

Money is everywhere and is the single most important universal currency. The Money and Pensions Service works hard to deliver free and impartial money guidance to the wider public.

As user-centred designers we are often focused on creating and delivering experiences that solve a user need. How often do we get an opportunity to address a user's wider world experience and how their needs originate from this?

During this session, we will discuss and share some tools to encourage a systems thinking approach and the value this brings when orchestrating public services for a wider audience. We will explore our own understanding of systems thinking, and how this way of working has impacted design decisions at delivery level.

Participant takeaways:

• Fresh insights in how to bring systems thinking to your user-centred design approach

• A toolkit framework that supports service design at the micro, meso and macro 'zoom levels'

• Considerations for how for systems thinking has the potential to be an important driver for service design leadership and strategy

About our speaker: Lia Emanuel

With 15+ years' experience in user experience across academia and consultancy, Lia has a keen interest in understanding users, stakeholders and complex organisational needs.

With a passion for research and evidence driven design, she has recently worked in user research and service design with NHS Test and Trace, Department for Education, UKRI and UK Export and Finance.

About our speaker: Alix Speed

Alix is currently the lead service designer at The Money and Pensions Service. She takes a deep interest in user centric anthropology.

Alix has a varied academic and professional background, which has contributed to her whole world view approach and interest in systems thinking.

She has undertaken study with the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service in lean six-sigma manufacturing, product and industrial design, as well as working as a secondary technology teacher in the school classroom before becoming a service designer.