Past
First Year
In the past, I was trained in a more traditional education system, learning through books, being taught in everyday classes, by teachers using chalkboards, and being entirely assessed through written exams. Upon coming to TU/e, I had to adapt to a different way of learning that was self-directed and challenge-based. I adapted relatively quickly to this new approach, learning things more efficiently and performing better than I had in the conventional high school system.
Throughout the year, I build a strong foundation by developing a basic understanding of design processes and methods, while also acquiring multiple hard skills. I gained knowledge and skills in all areas of expertise except Business and Entrepreneurship. At the same time, I was introduced to Professional Identity and Vision, something that was profoundly shaped based on my first-year activities.
Second Year
Entering the second year I set the goal to achieve a basic level of competence in all expertise areas, expand my knowledge in design research methods and processes and explore different project types in order to set a direction for my third year activities, based on what I am interested the most. Throughout the year I undertook the Technology-Entrepreneurship certificate, which formed a robust understanding in the Business and Entrepreneurship area, something that I lacked at before. My Technology and Realization skills were already quite developed, but throughout the year I integrated hardware and software in prototypes I manufactured, aiding me to become all-rounded in prototyping. In Creativity and Aesthetics, I improved my visual design perception and skills throughout my projects, but what truly stood out was a difference in my attitude, by understanding how interactions with the objects we use play a key role in their overall aesthetics. This sparked an interest in interaction design, which directed my B3.1 activity and choice of master's at that time, as creating intuitive and engaging interactions became a central part of my vision. In User and Society, I gained a comprehensive understanding of design research, which I applied in a design research project. In Math, Data and Computing, I undertook gathering real-life data and analyzing it using Python.
Third Year
The third year was notably challenging and different. In the first semester, I relocated to a new city and began an internship where I advanced my skills in User Experience Design, User Interface Design, and Product Management. Although the design and research processes were familiar, I had to adapt to a faster-paced environment with higher standards for prototype quality. During the internship, I gained a deeper understanding of the importance of my identity, vision, and reflective stance, concepts that previously felt just another assignment, but have now become integral to my professional development stance. Designing for real-world scenarios introduced me to technical and practical constraints, significantly shaping my vision and identity. In the second semester, I completed my graduation project at ASML, applying my user experience and interface design skills within a corporate organization. This project, along with my two final courses, played a crucial role in shaping my future plans, which I will discuss in the following sections.
Present
Expertise Areas Development
Business and Entrepreneurship
Throughout my studies, my interest in business and entrepreneurship has grown incrementally, arguably becoming my most advanced competence and significantly influencing my choice of master's program. Business and entrepreneurship play a central role in my identity and vision, as I am passionate about coordinating viable products that can thrive in the competitive market. I have gained extensive knowledge in various areas, including business models, principles of entrepreneurship, intellectual property rights, and more. Additionally, I have acquired numerous skills. I have learned to conduct thorough desk research to analyze competitors, identify unique value propositions and know how to search for patents and protect ideas using appropriate intellectual property mechanisms. All these, are complemented by a valuable trait I have always possessed but have matured throughout my studies: an entrepreneurial attitude. I see unmet market needs as opportunities to provide solutions and generate value for all stakeholders
Technology and Realization
Technology and realization is integral to my vision for two key reasons. First, possessing technical acumen is crucial for assessing product feasibility and effectively communicating technical matters with multidisciplinary stakeholders. Second, incorporating user feedback and testing my products requires the ability to create functional prototypes and demos that accurately simulate the final product. In the realm of physical products, I have skills and knowledge in electronic circuits, Java, Arduino coding, 3D modeling, and additive manufacturing, which enable me to develop functional prototypes. For digital products, I have advanced skills in Figma, a digital prototyping tool that is easy to learn but challenging to master, and I am now proficient in its advanced functionalities.
Math, Data and Computing
In a user-centered design process where bigger amounts of gathered data might occur, making sense of data is invaluable. Having completed two courses in this area, I possess the knowledge to interpret data visualizations and the skills to process and analyze data using Python. While I am more inclined towards qualitative data gathering and analysis methods, I have sufficient competence in quantitative data gathering and processing to incorporate it into my design process when needed.
Related Work
Creativity and Aesthetics
I believe that creativity and aesthetics are very important and inherently include them in each of my projects. Over the years, my understanding of this area has developed tremendously. Initially, I saw aesthetics as purely visual, but I have come to realize that it encompasses various mediums, in stimulating different senses and that every interaction can be aesthetically pleasing or not on its own. This realization has grew an attitude within me, often leading me to evaluate everyday objects based on my interactions with them. Creativity-wise, I have always been a creative person. Throughout my studies, I learned to channel this creativity to generate ideas, conceptualize, and storytell. I use various activities in my creative process, from plain brainstorming and listing ideas. to exploratory sketching, storyboarding, and rapid prototyping.
User and Society
In my design approach, I find that input from users and other stakeholders is paramount to achieving a desirable and meaningful product. From my first semester, this expertise has played a key role in shaping my identity and vision, particularly influenced by the User-Centered Design course, which I found very interesting. Throughout my studies, I have become skilled in methodically gathering data from users and turning it into insights that directly inform my design choices. Engaging with users is something I actively strive for throughout the entire design process. In the past, I have employed various methods such as user interviews, cultural probes, workshops for data gathering, and personas, journey mapping, and empathy mapping for data processing. As societal impact plays an integral part in my vision, a framework I have found invaluable in mapping this impact to create meaningful innovations is the Value Framework by Elke den Ouden.
Design Research Methods and Processes
Throughout my studies, I have employed various approaches in my design processes, including design thinking and the reflective transformative design process model. Demonstrating competence and growth in this area can be challenging, as each design process is unique and tailored to specific circumstances. However, I find paramount that a design process is systematic, research driven, iterative, adaptable and incorporates different stakeholders. A common variable I have encountered in my experiences is a divergence-convergence dynamic. Initially, the process involves divergence, where multiple abstract choices are generated. This is followed by convergence, where these choices are shortlisted, eventually leading to concrete choices.
Professional Skills
Professional and soft skills play a crucial role in executing successful projects. Throughout my studies, I have developed effective presentation and pitching skills, learned how to organize my time, and plan project activities to properly meet deadlines. Working on numerous group projects, I discovered how to collaborate effectively with others. While I enjoy multidisciplinary teams, I prefer completing my tasks individually and use meetings for discussion. One of my most significant developments is my confidence, both as a professional and as a designer. This confidence supplements my skills and helps me make my voice stand out. Additionally, I have adopted a reflective stance, which is essential for evaluating past experiences and achieving better results in future ones.
Future
