I consider myself an empathic innovative and business-oriented designer. A designer who enjoys working with different types of people with an open ear for new insights, and knows when to take the role as a designer or when to participate in the environment to gain a better understanding of the field I work in. Within my Final Master Project, I did not just test the insights but also volunteered in the weekly get-togethers for people with dementia. I like to invest my time in getting to understand the situation better from multiple perspectives, hence the reason that the Mixed perspectives of Empathic Design by Smeenk, Tomico & van Turnhout (2016) fit so well with my personal view on what design requires.
Before my Bachelor’s and Master’s programs in Industrial Design, I had developed a huge interest in Healthcare, Technology, Innovation and Business. These topics are well reflected in the subjects I addressed throughout my college, with a special emphasis on designing for vulnerable people in healthcare. Using ‘Warm Technology’ to include people with dementia in the ever-changing society we live in, to visualise how technology can be used to connect, rather than to distance generations and to design for a better health community in the Netherlands.
Taking on a challenge, and allowing myself to grow stronger or more acquainted with a topic or skill is part of my way to design. Experiencing difficulties is part of this process, but I keep myself motivated to improve, reflect on the growth and refine my skills, taking the time to be able to learn new skills like 3D printing, 3D modelling, HTML and many others, and finding the right place to implement.
Working in groups is the space in which I shine, working in an environment in which I can teach others new skills and the other way around. I love to explain to others how certain things can be done and am eager to hear new or other approaches, hence my learning motto: Watch, learn and implement. To watch or experience how it is done right now, learn the skills required or learn new skills that could improve the situation, and lastly, implement the new insights for others to copy or use.
With my background in retail sales, I focus on the practical feasibility of products and highlight the unique selling points (USPs) of different ideas. Visible in a stakeholder project, where I was able to pick out the USP of a company and design around that, leading towards valuable new insights for the startup company. My business-oriented perspective is reflected in less abstract thinking and more to the point. My chosen master’s track, Design Leadership and Entrepreneurship (DLE) track, perfectly fits the role of a designer I aim to become, as a connector of disciplines. The diverse educational program of Industrial Design, together with my broad interests allow me to understand the language of these disciplines and connect people effectively.
As I aim to develop myself as widely as possible, I look for a challenge in every project to learn from. Either through the implementation of new technology, or a completely new target group, I like to move away from using similar techniques every time and look for new growth opportunities.