Immersion in the Workplace: A Unique Model for Students to Engage in Real-World Service Design

Since 2015, Fjord and Parsons School of Design have been collaborating to create a mutually beneficial alternative to internships by immersing Design and Technology graduate students in the one-week Fjord Immersive Design Studies. The Design Studies at Fjord operate outside of direct client work and are a perfect vehicle to engage students in structured human-centered design research. The mission of the Fjord/Parsons Immersion Program is to influence the future of design, to shape future designers, and to propel Fjord’s service design innovation. For the Parsons students, the experience as contributing members of a service design team is an unusual benefit. While traditional months-long internship programs can sometimes be a strain on company resources or an unproductive learning experience for students, the Fjord/ Parsons Immersion Program is an excellent alternative training opportunity to engage students in meaningful work to achieve valuable research in human-centered service design for Fjord. This paper discusses six cases of Parsons graduate students who benefitted from the program.