DD+D Published in Touchpoint Journal

My article, "Call Me a Cab! But first…” -- which discusses principles and techniques drawn from Method acting and diversity and inclusion training can benefit service designers.-- was published in the latest issue of the Service Design Network's Touchpoint Journal.







Touchpoint Vol. 4 No. 2 focuses on the connection between service design and the performing arts. Services and performing arts have many things in common: both are ephemeral, made up of processes, depend on people to fulfill a variety of tasks which add up to a bigger picture, and both are planned with the help of tools such as storyboards, scenarios and customer journeys... In this issue of Touchpoint the main goal is to have a look at those processes which can be applied or transferred from the one field on to the other.


Check out the preview and have a look at the cover and table of contents here

Service Design and User Experience: Same or Different?

What are the differences and similarities between Service Design and User Experience?
This video does an excellent job of answering this question.

http://vimeo.com/23582440

Ready, Set, Go at Northwestern University

Byron taught the "Ready" sessions of this year's Ready, Set, Go program at Northwestern University .

Ready, Set, Go is an intensive summer workshop designed to improve the oral communication and presentation skills of graduate students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Get Ready: Build stage confidence through improv and theater.

Get Set: Learn to customize your research story for any audience.

Go: Showcase your skills in an interdisciplinary colloquium.

Here  is a link to the NU program

The Northwestern program is modeled after a program originated by Stony Brook University's Center for Communicating Science where Alan Alda (Mash) ran the "Ready" section.

Here is a video of his work which I adapted for our program.

Some of the feedback:

“Byron came to Northwestern University to work with graduate students as part of a professional development building program aimed at improving the communication skills of PhD scientists and researchers. Through group instruction and individual coaching, Byron's keen eye for details and humorous presentations enabled the class to both have a terrific time and gain valuable insight in the changes needed to improve their research presentations to a variety of audiences. All of the students surveyed stated how successful the sessions were, and how much fun they had - many doing so in a setting that was outside of their typical comfort zone. This only happened because Byron has such an engaging personality and talent for recognizing the small changes that individuals can make to vastly improve their stage presence and presentation skills. Byron is professional, fun, and an excellent teacher and coach. I highly recommend his work.”

Michelle Paulsen ·Program Director at Northwestern University