To date, service prototyping has been discussed academically as an unproblematic add-on to existing prototyping techniques, or as methods for prototyping social interaction. In fact, most of the knowledge on how services are prototyped comes from organisations and practicing design consultants. Some attempts to define service prototyping have been made but generally without concern about how complete service experiences should or could be represented. Building on existing knowledge about prototyping, a draft of a service prototyping conceptualisation is generated. Based on the draft, the question of how to prototype holistic service experiences is raised and in total, 5 studies have been conducted that contribute knowledge to that overarching question. In addition, each study has its own research question. Study 1 conceptualises prototypes and prototyping in a framework while study 2 and 3 looks at what practicing service designers say they do to prototype services and how they involve different stakeholders in the process. Study 4 examines aspects of design communication and how service experiences are communicated and used during design meetings, and study 5 finally, attempts to generate a process that can be used to evaluate the impact of location oriented service prototypes in e.g. healthcare settings. A number of challenges for service prototyping are identified in the studies, along with the issue of who authors prototypes. The conceptualisation of prototyping is adjusted based on the studies and a framework is constructed that support the conceptualisation. Little evidence for holistic approaches to prototyping services is found in the interviews and service designers involve their clients primarily when prototyping. Service experiences are introduced in communication using a format termed micro-narratives. This format and the purpose of using references to previous experiences are discussed. The thesis is concluded with a suggestion of a process for service prototyping. This process is specific for service design and attempts to support service designers in making holistic service representations when prototyping. Service prototyping requires further research. / ICE

We are at the dawn of the next chapter of manned space flight, and space travel will soon be within reach for the majority of the humanity, not just the elite. The imminent launch of Virgin Galactic's first commercial service this year, soon to be followed by companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin, means that space tourism will quickly go from one individual every few years to dozens, perhaps hundreds of new space tourists annually. Everyday civilians going to space for the purpose of tourism will have fundamentally different needs than professional astronauts going up to space for days or month at a times for work and research. To make space travel within reach of the masses, space tourist will need a different and simplified process compared to traditional astronauts. This thesis created a user-centered service that allows companies to handle the increasing number of private individuals going to space. The service not only prepares the customer for the space flight, but also provides an experience that will last a lifetime, that will be shared with others, and in the process perhaps inspire a new generation of human progress and collaboration. The result is a snapshot of the overall service, illustrate the user experience in an immersive, virtual environment. As part of the exploration, an immersive and very effective new method of user experience testing is developed as contribution to the field of Interaction Design.