Interlude 3: Data as material of services

This text discusses the role of data and related technologies as a key material in service design. The author argues that data is "the" material of service, and that all services are dependent upon data. The author identifies three types of service design occurring: traditional strategic service design, improving existing services, and a new approach that is more focused on working with the data itself to explore new opportunities. The author also describes four components of working with data, which they call "organs": collection strategy and mechanisms, modeling, rendering, and controlling. These organs are used internally in all projects and are important for different people with different skills to be brought in at different stages of forming the material.