Mikko Koivisto is Lead Service Designer at Diagonal, Helsinki, Co-Author of the book ‘Designing Services with Innovative Methods’ and Board member of International Design Foundation (World Design Capital Helsinki 2012).
“I see my role in the board as promoting the use of service design and sharing my knowledge about it with different stakeholders.” Touchpoint spoke to Mikko Koivisto about the role of service design in the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 and his position in the WDC board. 82
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The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) has designated Helsinki as World Design Capital for 2012. Does this role only refer to product design? How strongly is service design represented? One of the reasons why Helsinki was chosen as a world design capital from 47 applicant cities was not only its glorious design heritage in product design, but also its commitment to embedding the use of design profoundly within its social, economic and cultural development. The year-long programme consists of 300 events, projects and initiatives in which Helsinki will examine the ways in which design is embedded in everyday life. The WDC Helsinki 2012 vision extends the concept of design strongly from products to services and systems. Which service design-related initiatives and events will take place in Helsinki in 2012? Numerous service design projects will be carried out during the year: for example, the Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy and the Ministry of Transport and Communications are promoting the utilisation of service design in its pilot projects. The City of Helsinki
