What does community truly mean for service designers today? Beyond our professional circles, how might we cultivate deeper, more transformative networks within our immediate field and beyond?
Over years of volunteering and learning, I have found that the most powerful breakthroughs in service design are sparked when practitioners connect across backgrounds, disciplines, and geographies. Community in this broader sense is less about belonging to a single group and more about harnessing the power of diverse voices, challenging, supporting, and inspiring one another to grow.
What draws us to communities, and how can we become more intentional about the ones we nurture? In my own journey, from classroom experiences at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) to virtual volunteer work with Service Design Network Next Gen Conference (NGC25), I have witnessed how true community is defined not by mere membership, but by a spirit of mutual support and shared curiosity, forging a place where everyone contributes to shape and is shaped by the connections we forge.
Community is Everywhere: Why it Matters in Service Design
Reflecting on these moments, I found myself wondering what it is about community, beyond simply working together and achieving common goals, that is vital for our development both personally and as a discipline.
Service designers understand that our practice flourishes not in isolation but within energetic circles where practitioners exchange ideas and grow together. This leaning toward collaboration is not only a professional skill; it is a deeply human instinct. As Yuval Noah Harari explains in Sapiens, our extraordinary capacity to connect, cooperate, and build shared meaning has shaped our survival and evolution, giving us the ability to solve complex problems and adapt to new environments together instead of alone.
We are naturally inclined to seek connections and belonging, whether in professional networks, classrooms, families, or local organizations. In many ways, service design demonstrates how humans come together at their best, building bridges across disciplines, harnessing diverse strengths, and orchestrating shared solutions within intricate systems. When service designers recognize and nurture these bonds, both within and beyond our immediate circles, we not only tackle today’s challenges but also help shape a resilient, innovative, and human-centered future for the wider community.
Community in my life has always extended beyond service design itself. Many of my most meaningful growth experiences and valuable lessons have come from groups outside my own profession. Volunteering at my daughter’s school and participating in the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) revealed how steady support and open conversation create welcoming spaces where every voice is heard. Within my own circles, I am inspired by colleagues who pursue meaningful work in other fields. For example, Alla Weinberg, Principal of Design Operations at Harmonic Design, co-founded Four Percent to build authentic connections and healthier work cultures. Becky Scheel, the Creative and Community Lead Designer at Harmonic Design, is also involved with her local political action initiative.
Witnessing the impact of these efforts, whether in local organizations or in creative workplaces, demonstrates how the spirit of service design, founded on collaboration, openness, and empathy, can flourish wherever people come together. Each example shows that when we gather around shared purpose and support, the power of community continues to be a force for good in every setting.
Early Lessons from My Personal Journey
My journey offers two clear examples of how communities shape personal and professional growth. At SCAD, I was surrounded by a culture that valued genuine outreach and connection. It was not only classmates but also professionals who welcomed students into the broader service design dialogue. Those early coffee chats and open conversations became lessons in how sharing knowledge can ripple outward and inspire others.
Later, as a volunteer at the SDN (NGC25) in both 2023 and 2025, I witnessed these same dynamics at a global scale. Leading a diverse virtual team to unite both emerging and seasoned service designers helped me see how inclusivity, shared purpose, and collective effort can spark transformation not only for individuals but for the field as a whole. Through open exchanges in candid breakout rooms, panel discussions where curiosity was encouraged, and creative workshops shaped by attendees at every career stage, the conference became a space where people offered insights, extended support, and opened opportunities to others. In this setting, stepping forward meant inviting participation, sharing resources, and investing time in conversations that welcomed meaningful contributions from everyone, no matter their title or experience. Crossing boundaries of geography and background showed that persistent challenges and complex barriers can only be addressed when many perspectives are brought to the table.
Throughout my professional career, every organization I have joined has encouraged its people to dedicate some of their time and energy toward giving back to support the greater community. It has always been rewarding to find this value embraced wherever I go, and I strive to offer help when I can, guiding others and passing on the same culture of support that shaped my early experiences.
Each of these experiences reaffirmed for me that the true value of community comes from opening doors for others, sharing what we know, and learning together. This mindset fuels personal growth, strengthens our networks, and reminds us that community is both the foundation of our discipline and the driving force for positive and lasting change.
The Challenges We Face, Together.
Building community within servicedDesign is rewarding, yet it comes with real challenges that test both our resilience and our commitment to generosity. Across fields, and especially in times of political division, communities often struggle with individualistic mindsets, gatekeeping, and the tendency to reinforce tunnel vision. When new ideas are excluded and outside perspectives are dismissed, communities risk becoming echo chambers with little room for growth or empathy.
This risk is amplified by the current climate, where polarization encourages us to circle the wagons and listen only to familiar voices. For servicedDesign and every group, it is critical to resist this inward pull. Maintaining engagement is tough when personal responsibilities compete for attention and burnout can follow when efforts are overlooked or undervalued. It is equally challenging to uphold open knowledge sharing and stay true to core values when conversations veer off course or become dominated by a few voices.
Yet these obstacles are not unique to service design, they are present in many communities. Each challenge offers an opportunity to learn new approaches by seeking out strategies that have helped others thrive beyond our field. Opening community doors and inviting diverse perspectives is not only generous, it is essential to building teams and networks that are resilient against bias and able to foster empathy in divisive contexts.
Yet these obstacles are not unique to service design, they are present in many communities. Each challenge offers an opportunity to learn new approaches by seeking out strategies that have helped others thrive beyond our field.
Continuing to Nourish and Build.
As you reflect on your own journey, consider where the community has truly thrived. What lessons or practices from outside experiences can be brought into your own field? Challenge yourself to take a step outside your usual circle. Join a new group, reach out to someone with a different background, or volunteer in settings unfamiliar to you. Each act of openness deepens your ability to connect, collaborate, and build creative solutions.
When we mirror the collaborative spirit and creative problem-solving found in diverse communities, we invite new ways of thinking and discover opportunities where we might not expect. These wider perspectives combat the dangers of echo chambers, enrich systems thinking, and inspire us to imagine what is possible anywhere we seek to make a difference. By staying open to learning from others and taking action, we help create a more innovative, empathetic, and connected future for ourselves, our communities, and our discipline.
