Servitization of Products as an Approach For Design-Driven Innovation

Authors

• Ehsan Baha, Department of Industrial Design, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
• Aylin Groenewoud, Department of Industrial Design, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
• Koert van Mensvoort, Department of Industrial Design, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Abstract

In this paper we present how the meaning of a product can radically be innovated through add-on services and related service support products to the existing product instead of significantly redesigning it. We explore and investigate this assertion with an action-oriented case study using a research through design approach. Our research was done within the Dutch fashion industry together with a fashion label specialized in handmade knitwear. As a result two services; ‘Meet Your Knitter’ and ‘Our Garment’; were designed and added to an exclusive garment line. Early probing indicated an innovation in the meaning of the garments through servitization. In general; we conclude that servitization of products can be a promising approach for design-driven innovation. This is especially interesting for firms that would like to probe and experiment with service design for meaning innovations. However; more research is required to fully understand and utilize the suggested approach.

Keywords

design-driven innovation; handmade fashion industry; servitization of products

DOI

https://doi.org/10.21606/servdes2014.34

Citation

Baha, E., Groenewoud, A.,and van Mensvoort, K.(2014) Servitization of Products as an Approach For Design-Driven Innovation, in Sangiorgi, D., Hands, D., & Murphy, E. (eds.), ServDes 2014: Service Future, 9–11 April, Lancaster, United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.21606/servdes2014.34

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Conference Track

Research Papers