Description of SD in the region

North Rhine-Westphalia stands at a unique crossroads of innovation, industrial excellence, and design thinking – making it the perfect ecosystem for a vibrant Service Design Chapter. Our region is not just a manufacturing powerhouse, but an emerging hub of strategic design and user-centric innovation.

Unparalleled Industrial Ecosystem
NRW boasts one of the world's few complete industrial value chains, characterized by a dynamic mix of:

• Specialized small and medium-sized enterprises
• Robust mid-sized companies
• Large-scale industrial players

This diverse landscape creates an ideal testing ground for service design methodologies, bridging traditional industries with cutting-edge user experience strategies.

Design Talent and Infrastructure
Our region offers an exceptional foundation for service design:

• Over 10 universities with design-related programs
• A rich network of design agencies across key cities like Cologne, Düsseldorf,
  Dortmund, and Aachen
• Established corporate service design teams in leading companies such as
  Deutsche Telekom, Eurowings, Metro, DHL, EON, Henkel, Yello and Aldi Süd, as
  well as global consultancies, such as Accenture, Deloitte, Publicis, PWC and
  Sopra Steria
• Growing service design teams within the public sector, such as the
  Innovationslabor from the Stadt Köln, the GIZ and the UN Campus Bonn

Collaborative Potential
With an already engaged Service Design Drinks Cologne community of 200+ professionals, we have a ready-made network eager to collaborate, share knowledge, and drive innovation. In addition to that, we can connect to other innovation networks and institutes engaged in promoting innovative and creative ways of Our chapter aspires to become a strong and active community within NRW.