Service design will become an important element in private sector innovation and could be a considerable tool for innovating welfare services. The UK seems to be a pioneer in this area. Over the last four years, the UK Design Council has piloted a range of on-line public sector projects, with the aim of developing practical design solutions to some of the most complex problems. In the 2008 Innovation Nation White Paper, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) recognised the role of design in public sector innovation.

Public Services by Design is being set up in order to turn new innovative ideas into cost-effective and efficient outcomes, which deliver the right experience for the public.

Public Services by Design is being set up by a Design Council to help the British government create services that are not only cost effective, but also innovative as they re-design and re-build the way the public sector delivers services to its citizens.

Working closely with designers, providers, front-line staff and users of public services, the Design Council intends to co-design a useable, relevant and widely-applicable design programme making public services more personalized.

The design programme will be co-developed over the next two years with a programme available from autumn 2010.

Source: http://www.designcouncil.org.uk