What’s the difference between UX design and service design?

Published on:

Do not index
Do not index

UX Design vs Service Design

UX Design (User Experience Design)

Focuses on the interaction between users and a specific product or service.
Aims to create seamless, intuitive, and enjoyable experiences.
Primarily concerned with digital interfaces such as websites, apps, or software.
Involves elements like:
  • Information architecture
  • User testing

Service Design

Focuses on the end-to-end experience of a service, considering both customer and service provider.
Designs the entire service journey across multiple touchpoints.
Ensures all interactions (digital, physical, or human) are:
  • Cohesive
  • Efficient
  • Aligned with user needs
Takes a holistic approach: addresses both front-end (customer-facing) and back-end (operational) aspects of a service.

In short

UX design is about optimising the user experience with a product or interface.
Service design looks at the overall service experience, ensuring that all parts of the service delivery process work together smoothly.
 

Get free UX resources

Get portfolio templates, list of job boards, UX step-by-step guides, and more.

Related questions

What books or tools would you recommend for getting a better understanding of UX?
How do I master presenting to different stakeholders and selling my designs effectively?
What's the best tool for UI animation presentations?
How do you present your design ideas to convince stakeholders?
What’s your experience with being self-employed? I’m looking to shift to full-time freelance design and would love to learn about your journey.
What business skills do you think would make a designer a valuable asset to a business?
I’m struggling to benchmark pricing based on client type. How should I approach this?
How do you build your personal brand inside and outside your company?
I’ve heard a lot about UX documentation and I feel like it’s key to getting a seat at the table. Most people couldn’t share templates because of confidentiality, so I’m curious—what do these documents typically include?
What are the tools for rapid prototyping that are faster than Figma?
What are the benefits of public speaking for a UX designer?
How do you know when to keep pushing forward with the same design approach, and when it's time to switch gears entirely?