We'd love you to attend!
(Now let's help convince you and your employer...)
Everyone knows that advancing your career through training, workshops, conference, networking and even self-learning will pay great dividends. Not only do they give you the stepping stones to advance your career, they offer you professional engagement and stimulation that is different than your day-to-day work.
​
But most of this education costs money, and both you - and your boss/employer, if they will foot the bill - need to be convinced of the value. We hear you, and we're here to help.
9 reasons why you should attend the Service Design Masterclasses course
Earn Professional Accreditation
Not only does accreditation help you stand out as a jobseeker, it positions you well for career advancement in your current role by expanding your capabilities and impact. Since 2017, 300+ accreditations have been granted.
Backed up by the SDN's brand and resources
The SDN is a non-profit, global organization founded in 2004 and is volunteer-lead. We are the foremost community of our kind, and our knowledge resources underpin the course content.
Flexible payment plans and income-indexed discounts
We offer the ability to pay for the course in multiple installments. And, just as for all SDN initiatives, we are committed to recognizing disparities in world-wide income, and offer discounts of up to 75%, based on country of residence.
Learn from experts
No single person could teach the range of subjects assembled under the Masterclasses Series. That's why we've chosen a global, diverse group of seasoned trainers - including PhDs, professors and published authors - who will share their knowledge with you.
Personal attention
With limited class size, and an opportunity to interact with them in two sessions each week, you'll have support from our trainers. Furthermore, they'll review your assignments and provide feedback. Many online training courses don't include this, leaving you on your own.
5 years of SDN Academy
With more than 5 years experience in training both starting and advanced service designers, in-person and online, we are a trusted name. More than 1,100 students have taken more than 24 courses with us.
A mix of theory and hands-on learning
The course will expose you to not only the 'theory' elements which underlie each module, you'll get to apply what you learn in practice, by completing an assignment in each module.
Work at your own pace within each module
The course meets twice per week at fixed times, with one required session and one highly-recommended but optional. During the rest of the week, your work on assignments and supplemental learning can be done at your own pace.
Incredible value (included in the course fee)
Pursuing Professional Accreditation through the SDN typically costs €1,800. A two-year membership to the SDN costs €360. Both of those - a value of €2,160 - are included in the course at no additional cost.
Ready-to-go course request letter
To help you build the case to attend the course, we have prepared a template letter you are free to adapt and use as you see fit, in paper, via email, or on a long Post-it note you leave on your boss' desk.
I would like to request approval to attend the "Professional Masterclasses" online course, which is being offered by the Service Design Network Academy, and starts later this year. The course is targeted at experienced service designers like me, and consists of an 8-week, 8-module curriculum. The topics include: Designing Services with AI, Prototyping and Implementation, Systems Thinking and Sustainability, Leading Teams and Organizational Change, and Pitching, Selling and Getting Buy-In. The course is not full-time, and has been designed to fit within the participants' day-to-day workloads.
​
What interests me most about the course is that it offers Professional Accreditation from the Service Design Network. The SDN has offered accreditation since 2017 and it is an industry-recognized, global scheme which recognizes service designers for having achieved certain benchmarks in skills and experience. More than 300 other service designers have already been accredited.
​
The course is taught by a range of experienced trainers as well as guest experts, and the interactive lecture sessions will be complemented with self-study and assignments. Overall, I feel it offers me a comprehensive, value-for-money way for me to learn new skills and improve my existing ones, and will help me perform my job better as well as take on new challenges.
​
The SDN Academy has taught more than 1,100 students over the last 5 years, and the SDN itself was founded in 2004. It's a non-profit, membership-based global organization that also runs an annual conference, publishes the 'Touchpoint' journal, grants the SDN Award, among other activities.
​
The course costs [insert the tuition price you are eligible for, in your currency] and comes with none of the additional travel related costs that come with conferences or in-person training. That price includes the cost of Professional Accreditation (for which the SDN normally charges €1,800) for myself, as well as a two-year membership to the SDN, giving me on-going access to many benefits such as their journal and event discounts. Together, those benefits represent a value of €2,160 on their own.
​​
Thank you in advance for your consideration and please let me know if you would like any additional information.
​