Unleashing the Power of Theatre-Based Methods in Agile Service Design: The Double Diamond and Beyond

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, organizations need innovative, user-centered solutions to succeed. Agile methodologies, design thinking, and service design have emerged as powerful frameworks to help organizations adapt and thrive. But what if we could enrich these approaches even further? By integrating theatre-based methods such as investigative rehearsal into complex, Agile projects, and incorporating them within the Double Diamond model, we can unlock a world of creativity, collaboration, and human connection that drives transformative results.

The Synergy of Agile, Design Thinking, and Service Design:

Agile methodologies emphasize flexibility, adaptability, and iterative development, enabling teams to respond quickly to changing user needs and market conditions. Design thinking and service design provide a human-centered framework for problem-solving and innovation. Combined, these approaches create a potent recipe for delivering exceptional user experiences and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

The Double Diamond Model and Interactive Non-Linear Processes:

The Double Diamond model is a widely recognized design process framework, consisting of four phases: Discover, Define, Develop, and Deliver. It captures the essence of the design process, illustrating the importance of both divergent and convergent thinking. However, in practice, the design process is often more interactive and non-linear than the model suggests. Teams may revisit earlier phases, iterate on concepts, or explore new directions as insights emerge, demonstrating the dynamic nature of design thinking and service design.

The Magic of Theatre-Based Methods:

Theatre-based methods like investigative rehearsal can inject a unique element of creativity and empathy into the service design process, especially when incorporated within the Double Diamond model. By treating service interactions as performances, these methods encourage teams to fully immerse themselves in the user's perspective, unveiling new insights and opportunities for innovation.

Investigative rehearsal involves enacting and simulating service interactions with users, service providers, and designers, allowing teams to collaboratively test, iterate, and refine service concepts in real-time. This immersive, hands-on approach creates a safe space for experimentation and fosters a deep understanding of user needs and emotions.

The Value of Theatre-Based Methods in Agile Projects:

Integrating theatre-based methods into Agile service design projects and adapting them within the Double Diamond model offers several key benefits:

Enhanced Empathy: Theatre-based methods foster a deeper understanding of user needs, emotions, and experiences, leading to more effective and user-centered solutions.
Improved Collaboration: Investigative rehearsal brings together diverse stakeholders to collaboratively explore, test, and refine service concepts, promoting a culture of open communication and shared ownership.
Rapid Prototyping and Iteration: Theatre-based methods enable teams to quickly prototype and test service concepts, gather feedback, and iterate, aligning with the iterative spirit of Agile methodologies and the dynamic nature of the design process.
Emotional Engagement: By treating service interactions as performances, teams are encouraged to consider the emotional aspects of service delivery, leading to more engaging and memorable user experiences.
Reduced Risk of Failure: The iterative, collaborative nature of theatre-based methods allows teams to identify and address potential challenges early in the process, minimizing the risk of costly failures and ensuring more successful outcomes.

Conclusion:

The fusion of Agile methodologies, design thinking, service design, theatre-based methods like investigative rehearsal, and the Double Diamond model holds immense potential for driving innovation and delivering exceptional user experiences. By embracing the power of theatre and recognizing the interactive, non-linear nature of the design process, organizations can unlock new levels of creativity, empathy, and collaboration, ultimately transforming how they approach complex, Agile projects.

for researchers, service designers, innovation facilitators etc.

Background

As a “hybrid” between actor-director, dramaturge, innovation consultant, MSc. in technology design & communication, I love to engage in complex problemsolving as a consultant.

I offer more than 15 years of pragmatic experience working with “applied theatre techniques” - applying the methods to areas like:

Leadership training, coaching, technology development, edutainment, health, NGOs, design thinking / service design - adapted to the needs of the user - through a proper insight into the costumers domain.

The Norwegian Theatre Academy has been part of shaping my artistic mindset. With a mix of design thinking, interactive-artistic- research and a focus on post-dramatic theatre - the investigative approach has always been at the core of everything I do.

As a master of science within design and communicatiin (Cand.it DDK) - I can assist costumers on how to involve users in design processes through theatre-based activities.

At SDU Theatre Lab I have done several phenomenological research workshops, and I present some of my findings and processes below here.

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DOWNLOAD PROGRAM: Theatre in Design — Theatre in Design Seminar

Download program here

A methodology that can be used by designers and researchers, or anyone working within INNOVATION,

I have been teaching workshops and lecturing at SDU Design as part of a research process and conference with designers and design phd / researchers at the SDU Theatre Lab in collaboration with Prof Jacob Buur. Get the program here —>

Applied Theatre techniques is used to teach and explore new ways of utilizing and conceptualizing materials and objects through several workshop sessions.

One of the results was an "Embodied design thinking" process, where designers used their bodies in scenarios and more abstract object work.

Lectures on post-dramatic theatre as well as design theory served as a theoretical framework for the exploration and exchange.

Workshop - "Applied theatre in design processes"

Lecture on post-dramatic theatre by Hans-Thies Lehmann

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