Members of our design team came together to run a service jam for our design, product and delivery teams. The service jam brought people from different teams closer together, encouraged experimenting with varied design methodologies and sparked energy, creativity and cooperation.
Why we ran a service jam
We’ve been working hybrid for a while now with less in-person contact across our teams. We know that a great way to get to know people is by collaborating. We wanted to give everyone the opportunity to connect with people in the same physical space and work with colleagues they do not usually get to work with.
Planning the jam
Over the course of a few months, a core team of organisers met weekly to plan and discuss the service jam day.
We agreed that we wanted the jam to bring people closer together and spark creativity. We wanted the jam to be on a topic that was not connected to our day-to-day work. This year, Co-op has been supporting Barnardos, our charity partner, with initiatives aimed at improving the lives of young people. This felt like a good problem and theme to think about for the service jam, so we decided to explore new service ideas for young people.
We also organised:
- a venue away from our usual working space
- presentations from subject matter experts
- a service jam logo and branded slidedeck
- supplies – paper, cardboard, scissors, glue
- catering
The jam’s structure
We had 7 teams of 7 people on the day and we mixed the groups to make sure that they had a mix of interaction, content, service, product and delivery skills in them.
To give the event structure, the jam followed the classic double diamond design process:
- discover
- define
- develop
- deliver
For the initial discover section, we invited speakers from Barnardos and Co-op’s Community team to share the challenges facing young people today and the initiatives they already have in place. This helped ground the design sprint and give context.
For each stage of the design process, the facilitators gave a short introduction of the aim, different approaches or techniques they could use, and then gave teams time to discuss and work through it.
How it went
Teams were really engaged with the day and there was a lot of fun and energy in the room. Although it was a serious theme that posed some difficult challenges, the service jam allowed people to explore different ideas and develop them in a creative way.
At the end of the day, each team presented their ideas back to the room. Ideas included a mentoring scheme where people could choose their mentor, a scheme to transform brownfield spaces, and a career development programme to share skills.
The presentations were brilliant and showcased the different skills we have across the wider team.
What we learned
At the end of the day we asked for feedback from attendees. The organisers also ran a retro afterwards to identify what went well, not so well and what we have learned.
We learned that:
- we could have been clearer that the day was about bringing people together rather than creating deliverable solutions to the problem
- a materials checklist would have made it easier to be more organised just before the day
- our teams are so creative and positive and did not need much support during the activities
- an on-screen visible timer for activities was helpful
- we could have found a way for some of the facilitators to be more involved as participants
What next
The day was a huge success. It generated lots of energy, creativity and excitement for the whole design team. We’re now planning a new service jam challenge for the Co-op Digital Technology and Data Conference so that our wider Co-op colleagues can have the same experience.
Blog by Lynn Hagan, Lead UX Designer – with special thanks to Helen Lawson, Lead Content Designer, and Jack Fletcher, Lead Service Designer.
Core service jam team organisers: Jess Armson, Antonia Duffin, Jack Fletcher, Lynn Hagan, Suhail Hussain, Helen Lawson, Steph Parkinson, Matt Tyas
More information on topics in this blog post:
Service jam at the Co-op conference (internal Co-op colleagues)