Three approaches to co-creating services with users

The role of users in service design is changing from passive research subjects to active co-designers and content creators. This new direction can be supported with inspiring physical or virtual spaces where users, designers and other actors can meet informally and participate in service design as equals. In this paper we describe three different approaches to co-creation spaces: web-based Owela, physical showroom Ihme, and Living Labs that combine both physical and web elements. We compare these approaches based on the innovation phase they are most suitable for, the methods as well as the strengths and challenges of the approaches. All the three co-creation spaces manage to bring co-creation close to the users' everyday life. Participation is quite independent of time and in Owela independent of place as well. Users can select their level of contribution, varying from short comments to long-term participation in development projects. Direct designer/user interaction supports turning the designer's mind-set from technical features to user experience. This facilitates the design of services that are accepted by and interesting to users