My past
What made me who I am?
Ever since I was young, I like to make and create. Especially when creativity is involved; doing it my way. The often stubborn kid that I was, was busy thinking about other ways to do something then how it was ‘supposed’ to be done. This curious trait has always been a part of me but became suppressed during high school, where there was no room for creativity. After coming across the study of Industrial Design, I knew for sure what I wanted to study.
During my bachelor period, I developed myself within different areas of expertise through both internal projects and extracurricular activities.
The most intriguing projects can be seen below, where more substantive information about the project can be found, and how these projects have contributed to my development in relation to my professional identity and vision.
My Identity
What makes me who I am as a designer?
My professional identity revolves around a few key pillars that define my characteristics. First and foremost is my struggle with concentration, stemming from my ADHD. Maintaining focus can be challenging, particularly when dealing with difficult or uninteresting topics. Consequently, I naturally gravitate toward subjects, activities, and tasks that capture my interest.
These pursuits include various aspects of the design process, such as crafting prototypes, digital design, and communication. Additionally, I actively participate in extracurricular activities, serving as a member of different student associations and fulfilling diverse committee roles. Organizing events and managing finances are just a few examples of valuable experiences and skills that align with my identity. I find satisfaction in the array of organizational structures, which allows me to adapt and function effectively within different groups or teams.
As a designer, I find it easier to maintain concentration when engaging in activities that involve social interaction. Creating an inclusive work environment where stakeholders can freely express their thoughts and have their opinions respected is particularly fulfilling. Effective communication with group members and users also plays a crucial role, as it keeps me motivated and focused. Interacting with others provides continuous feedback and stimulates my mind, preventing it from drifting aimlessly and generating irrelevant thoughts.
Furthermore, I bring fresh perspectives to the table, often unexplored by fellow team members or students. This unique input forms the foundation for innovative solutions. I prefer an open and unrestricted approach to idea generation and embrace the brainstorming and iteration phases of design processes. By doing so, I continually enhance my problem-solving skills and broaden my knowledge in various aspects of my field of study.
Working with my hands is another aspect I thoroughly enjoy. Engaging in quick and simple prototyping allows me to unleash my creativity and often leads to exciting ideas. Even imperfect-looking artifacts can inspire novel concepts, especially in a collaborative work environment where barriers are minimized. I take pride in paying attention to detail and strive to achieve aesthetically pleasing final products during the creation phase.
"I strive for two things in design: simplicity and clarity. Great design is born of those two things."
- Lindon Leader
My Vision
What I stand for and is important to me.
For me, a good design has to benefit the daily life of its user. Therefore, it is the task of the designer to accomplish this in any way possible. My interest and focus on benefitting daily life lies in improving efficiency. Think about something that takes out unnecessary steps of the interaction with a product; face-ID instead of filling in a password, spring-loaded blinds instead of blinds with a cord pull, or even a foldable cutting board to prevent spilling something.
I also believe that a good product should do what it is designed for in the most efficient way possible. The aesthetics of a product has a great influence on its efficiency since it determines how the user interacts with the product [1]. For instance, bad placement of any buttons or other important points of interaction can be disastrous for fast interaction. Furthermore, rationalization can be used to (re)design products with the aim of efficiency based on rational principles. Products that are not intuitive will obstruct seamless interaction. Therefore, aesthetics play an important role in what I want to achieve as a designer. I find it inspiring how one product could fit the needs of multiple people. Therefore, the people using/interacting with it are a central factor in the design process. Different people can have different experiences after interacting with the same product. That is why the user and society are important to me. Collaborative design, extensive user testing, and elaborate communication means what I prefer during design processes. I believe the people using a product(, the target group,) are as important as the product itself.
Showcase
During my bachelor period I developed myself within the different areas of expertise through both internal projects and extracurricular activities.
The most intriguing projects are showcased below, where more substantive information about the project can be found, and how these projects have contributed to my development in relation to my professional identity and vision.
My Future
What do I want to become?
At the moment, I am having contact with potential stakeholders regarding the continuation of my FBP and the production of a usable product. When this works out, I hope to be working on realizing and further developing the concept for the next year. Here, I want to develop myself more in craftmanship, emphasizing creativity & aesthetics and technology & realization. In addition to this, I would really like to put the product on the market for commercial purposes so I can further develop myself within business & entrepreneurship.
After that year I want to put my practical experience into use as a master of Integrated Product Design at the University of Technology in Delft. I am not sure yet where I see myself after my master's, but I believe that this will become clear during my time in Delft.