What a day it was! London Welcome Centre Cafe was buzzing on a busy Friday afternoon and Jean and myself were excited to meet the Southern crowd for a catch up about our book. Even though the transport strikes put a spanner in our works, we had a fabulous time with Bo Kelestyn from the University of Warwick who told us all about her Secret Warwick Challenge. And the secret was out…

Bo is such an inspirational lecturer that you simply wish you were one of her students! She has been able to mobilize students who would normally not engage with University wider activities and get those by-standers converted into activists! Design yet again provided that much needed path to inclusion, initiative and collaboration.

Our lively discussion about Bo’s achievements was so very useful. You know what it is like when you try to explain to somebody what you do. Just like writing a book chapter, right! We came away with some valuable lessons to share with the rest of you:

1. Your chapter is not about a project – even though most of our service design initiatives in education started as a small project, all of us have created a long-lasting impact and legacy in our institutions and in the HE sector. Pitch your chapter as that, not as a project.
2. Your title may be hidden in your story – all our chapter titles are now working titles. A bit too functional and slightly boring… So how can we come up with an enticing title that will draw our reader right in? Well, just like Bo did, tell somebody a story about your chapter. Find a friend, family member or your neighbour (potato friends would do, but may not be that responsive), get a lovely cuppa and get going. Your story will bring your chapter to live and I bet you your title will spring up unexpectedly in the middle of your story.

What a lovely Friday afternoon amidst the transport chaos! Jean and Bo came away with a much-deserved book badge and new friendship to last a lifetime! Who is ready for their next badge?

By Radka Newton, 28th November 2022