Timeline

My master development can be divided into two phases. First, I broadened my design skills and explored how the expertise areas strengthened each other. Second, I applied these connected competences beyond the academic context, where my main expertise areas, U&S, T&R and B&E increasingly formed the basis for my value-based development approach.

The visualization below shows how my expertise areas influenced each other throughout the master. My main expertise areas also shape how I connect the other EAs. T&R is strengthened by MD&C, because intelligent and interactive systems require data structures, logic and computational thinking. T&R is also strengthened by C&A, because technology becomes valuable in interaction when it feels understandable. Similarly, U&S and B&E are strongly connected, as creating value for people through design only becomes impactful when the solution can realistically reach them through a viable product, service or organization.

Curricular- and extra-curricular activities per EA

Reflecting on my master progression

As I had already developed a strong MD&C foundation during my AI Bachelor, I used my master to broaden my other expertise areas while applying this computational knowledge in an ID context. In DUIET, I designed a computer-vision-based lighting interaction for neurosurgeons, translating subtle foot movements into control input for surgical lighting. This introduced me to state-of-the-art themes such as post-WIMP interaction, gesture-based control and hands-free medical user interfaces [1]. Later, as an extracurricular activity, I developed AI-supported ideation tools for Joep Frens for new digital craftsmanship course material, supporting students’ creative exploration without taking over the designer’s role. Together, these projects helped me understand MD&C and T&R as connected design materials for structuring interaction, sensing behaviour and supporting creative exploration.

Through M1.1 and the IoT elective, I developed both my T&R and C&A skills by working with advanced 3D modelling, Arduino circuits, multi-sensor and actuator interaction, and applying these to growing IoT systems. Through rich and embodied interaction, I learned to design the aesthetics of interaction as an essential part of technological experience. In my M1.2 project BuKi, I further connected these skills to sustainability and circular design. By exploring bamboo as a material, psychological ownership as a user experience, and shared festival accommodation as a sustainable product-service system, I learned how T&R, C&A, U&S and B&E can work together to support more responsible behaviour in a waste-free festival context. This also inspired my current vision to design for futures aligned with Habitania.

Applying competencies in real-world contexts

In the second phase of my master, I started applying my connected competences through extra-curricular activities. BuKi developed into BAN’GR during Innovation Space Project, where I translated a sustainable concept into a start-up business case and explored circular business modelling, and implementation strategies. Continuing this project in my free time, cold-calling stakeholders such as Tropical Hangout and SensUs, and participating in two TU/e GATE accelerator programs taught me how important expert involvement, pitching and stakeholder alignment are when aiming for real-world impact [2], [3]. In parallel, collaborating with Brom Mechatronics on interactive birdhouses for a public festival taught me to design compact electronic circuits according to professional hardware standards, that later helped me to develop efficient research probes [4], [5]. Together with my DLE track course Values-Based Leadership, these experiences strengthened my entrepreneurial mindset and taught me that designing for value should inform design decisions throughout the process, which became central to my PI.

M21 project at Aumens

Critical reflection on my techno-optimistic background and my wish to improve quality of life through technology made me want to explore dementia care as a design context. My M2.1 project with Aumens introduced me to warm technology as a value-sensitive lens, and showed me how many care technologies still focus on monitoring, safety or efficiency, while the potential to support autonomy, dignity and everyday freedom remains underexplored [6]. I learned to bring this vision into practice by designing with people living with dementia through multiple co-creations, translating user values into product decisions, and collaborating with Aumens on manufacturability, stakeholder alignment and brand strategy. From an implementation perspective, I learned how care-tech innovation depends on balancing lived experience (U&S), interaction and prototyping (T&R, C&A), pilot-informed data patterns (MD&C), and real-world start-up constraints (B&E). Aumens became the foundation for my FMP, where my AI background, master development and value-based development approach came together.

References

[1] “Reality-based interaction | Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems.” Accessed: Jun. 16, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1357054.1357089

[2] “SensUs.” Accessed: Jun. 16, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://www.tue.nl/en/our-university/community/sensus

[3] “Tropical Hangout | Home,” Tropical Hangout. Accessed: Jun. 16, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://www.tropicalhangout.com/

[4] bas.smits, “Home,” Brom Mechatronica. Accessed: Jun. 16, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://brommechatronica.nl/

[5] “Vogelverschrikkerfestival | Valkenswaard,” https://vogelverschrikkerfestival.nl/. Accessed: Jun. 16, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://vogelverschrikkerfestival.nl/

[6] “Het Kompas dat altijd naar huis wijst,” Aumens. Accessed: Jan. 06, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://aumens.com/

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