PROCESS OF SERVICE DESIGN IN IN-HOUSE DESIGN DEPARTMENT IN JAPAN

Abstract

This paper aims to clarify how the designing process in in-house design department peculiar to Japan has changed, as service and solution are included in the design targets today. Many in-house design department in Japan have set up sections to handle these new design areas within themselves. The transformation of the design process in these sections and their characteristics were clarified by means of case studies based on interviews with general manager in design. As a result, the service design was found to have the following features. "1. Evaluation by the users in the preceding processes and verification in terms of business", "2. Creation of authentic prototype by means of advanced technologies in all processes", "3. Implementation through a stepwise process, which is still consistent in service designing". The most distinctive feature is that evaluation from outside stakeholders was added to the preceding process of the design, which used to include evaluation and examination conducted only inside the company. On the other hand, we could also confirm that the basis of the design process, "pursuance of further realization" had not changed.