Developmental Roadmap

30/01/2025

Vision

Currently, and for the last 2 decades more and more elements are being replaced or extended with the help of technological tools. I believe technology offers incredible possibilities, through its lens, we can often see new ways to improve processes, interactions, and experiences. My vision as a designer is to implement these technological advancements in a meaningful way beside just throwing technical solutions at a problem, an example of this is the current trend of embedding AI in a lot of places, without considering the consequences it brings along [4]. A term that aptly describes this is ‘Techno-Solutionism’ [5], the belief that technology alone can solve all problems, often overlooking the complexity of certain problems. Technology increasingly shapes how we live, learn, and interact. Yet its implementation often follows the assumption that innovation alone leads to progress. This techno-solutionist mindset risks reducing complex societal challenges to purely technical problems, overlooking their social, physical, and ethical dimensions.

I believe design should act as a critical mediator between technological possibility and human reality. Rather than asking what can be built, designers should ask what should be built, for whom, and under which conditions. Technology is not inherently meaningful; its value emerges only when it is carefully situated within context and aligned with human needs. I want to see the world become more balanced in its application of technology, and how it can enrich for example education [9].

Perspectives such as human-computer interaction (HCI) and embodied design emphasize that digital systems do not exist in isolation, they are experienced through bodies, behaviors, environments, and social systems. I am particularly drawn to this intersection between technological systems and physical engagement. Embodied design illustrates how integrating bodily experience into digital applications can enhance learning, interaction, and understanding [8] by grounding abstract processes in tangible action. Designing within this space requires both deep technical proficiency and a human-centered mindset, which helps create solutions that improve adoption, satisfaction, and real-world impact. Familiarity with diverse technologies and human-centered strategies equips designers to create solutions that provide genuine value to users.

This requires more than technical proficiency. It demands empathy, systems awareness, and the ability to critically evaluate when technology enhances an experience and when restraint, simplification, or physical alternatives may be more appropriate. Responsible design is therefore not about maximizing technological presence, but about intentional integration.

For me, the future of design lies in shaping technology as part of a broader ecosystem, where human agency, physical experience, and digital innovation coexist in thoughtful balance.

Ambition

As this designer I have a responsibility to shape the meaningfulness of technology in our lives. Each design decision should be guided by questioning whether this implementation truly adds value, by critically evaluating its impact on the people around it with the help of frameworks currently being used in embodied design and HCI. I recognize my tendency to gravitate toward digital solutions, and part of my professional growth lies in developing the discernment to choose technology intentionally rather than by default. In my professional identity, I emphasize human-centered, stakeholder-driven design as a way to ensure relevance, adoption, and meaningful impact. In whatever job role I land, in any process that includes creation, I should carefully consider the extreme impact my design can have with small the choices I make.

Professional Identity

I am a designer passionate about combining technology, human-centered thinking, and creative problem-solving to shape meaningful, user-focused solutions. I value optimism and open-mindedness, believing these traits fuel creativity, collaboration, and motivation. My strength lies in connecting people and disciplines, facilitating inclusive, stakeholder-driven design processes [3] where diverse perspectives lead to innovative outcomes. In team settings, I naturally gravitate toward coordination, ensuring all voices are heard and ideas are shared collaboration as a cornerstone of impactful design, and I actively work to create an environment where inclusivity drives innovation. My Bachelor’s in Creative Technology at the University of Twente provided a foundation in bridging hardware, software, and user needs, a skillset I’ve refined a lot through hands-on projects.

For example, designing a data physicalization prototype (Figure 1) deepened my expertise in electronic circuits and iterative prototyping, and while developing a low-poly video game from scratch (Figure 2) I improved my ability to translate abstract ideas into functional code and custom assets. These experiences taught me to embrace technical challenges as opportunities to create tangible, user-centric outcomes.

Figure 1: A data physicalization project I undertook in my bachelor, significantly improving my electronics knowledge and prototyping skill

Figure 2: Screenshots of a low poly video game made during the bachelor, all the code and assets were created

Beyond academia, my work in a startup crafting cosplay and LARP products (Figure 3) immersed me in end-to-end design processes, from conceptualizing wearable art to building a responsive web shop. This role highlighted the importance of balancing creativity with practicality, as I collaborated directly with customers to align designs with their needs. Similarly, designing an information system for a client (Figure 4) once more revealed the value of including stakeholder in the design, where they showed me multiple elements they valued I did not expect, reinforcing my commitment to inclusive, iterative processes. These projects showed the importance of involving stakeholders and users in the design to ensure adoption and real-world relevance.

Figure 3: Pictures of the startup where we made costume pieces and went to larp and cosplay events to sell stuff, and I made a web shop for

Figure 4: Screenshots of said information system application

In my design approach, flexibility is key. I adapt methodologies to fit the unique needs of each project (Figure 6,7,8), drawing from diverse frameworks to find the most effective process. In group projects, I prioritize a clear and structured approach to ensure transparency and accountability. On the other hand, my personal projects often follow a more spontaneous path driven by curiosity and exploration, allowing me to experiment freely and learn by doing.

Figure 6: During the design of wordbond, an accessibility tool to help visually impaired parents read to their children, a research through design method was used [12].

Figure 7: During my fmp (Currently in progress) the focus lays on understanding of users first and foremost, and a human centered design approach was taken [10].

Figure 5: During the design of tactone, a designer tool for soft robotic perception, where we used a material driven design method [11].

What drives me in my work is a focus on solving problems. Over time, I’ve grown more confident in my ability to tackle challenges by breaking them down and applying my skillset. I used to see personal motivation as the main factor for completing projects, and also my biggest pitfall, since it can be an unstable factor for specializing. But I’ve noticed that over time and with my education in my bachelor and the acquisition of skills my motivation shifted to the process itself and the satisfaction of finding solutions are what keep me going. I’m still navigating the balance between specialization and generalization, as I’m driven both by a desire to master specific skills and by the excitement of connecting diverse ideas across fields.

While I thrive in collaborative and inclusive environments, I sometimes struggle when others show a lack of initiative, which can lead me to take over tasks to maintain momentum. I’m aware that this tendency could hinder team dynamics, and I aim to improve my ability to navigate these situations, as it will likely also be part of future professional settings.

In summary, I am a designer dedicated to leveraging technology thoughtfully and responsibly, balancing creativity, technical skills, and human-centered design to craft solutions that make a meaningful impact.

Vision

Currently, and for the last 2 decades more and more elements are being replaced or extended with the help of technological tools.
I believe technology offers incredible possibilities, through its lens, we can often see new ways to improve processes, interactions, and experiences. My vision as a designer is to implement these technological advancements in a meaningful way beside just throwing technical solutions at a problem, an example of this is the current trend of embedding AI in a lot of places, without considering the consequences it brings along [4]. A term that aptly describes this is ‘Techno-Solutionism’ [5], the belief that technology alone can solve all problems, often overlooking the complexity of certain problems. Technology increasingly shapes how we live, learn, and interact. Yet its implementation often follows the assumption that innovation alone leads to progress. This techno-solutionist mindset risks reducing complex societal challenges to purely technical problems, overlooking their social, physical, and ethical dimensions.

For me, the future of design lies in shaping technology as part of a broader ecosystem, where human agency, physical experience, and digital innovation coexist in thoughtful balance.

Future Development

1. Short Term

Past

Lot of Technical Development Mainly: Math, Data & Computing; Technology and Realization

Present

(This Semester): Deepening of Math, Data & Computing and expansion into embodied and user centered design

Future

Become confident in combination of the two

In my vision as a designer, I believe that technology should not be applied indiscriminately but with careful consideration of when it truly enhances the user experience. This principle extends beyond just digital solutions and into the physical realm, where I want to explore embodied interaction and learning. To do so, I want to focus on deepening my technological proficiencies, to know what options are and when to apply them, and a focus on users. Working with embodied interaction, perception and learning will allow me to deepen my understanding of human-centered aspects of design that are often overlooked in purely digital contexts. It strengthens my ability to create intuitive, user-friendly products by considering the physical interaction before integrating any technological elements.

Short Term Goals
(feb 2026 - july 2026)

Letting the Design Process Guide Itself

1.

Reasoning
Completely letting the design process guide itself, without subtly steering it toward an idea I already have in mind, is harder than it sounds. Even when I believe I am following the process, it is easy to unconsciously shape interviews, interpretations, or design directions to align with my initial intuition.

I have already improved in letting literature gaps define a case, rather than inventing something first and finding academic support afterward. However, I want to extend this mindset to the design process itself. Even though I have ideas about how I would like this FMP to evolve, I want the direction to genuinely emerge from interviews, co-design sessions, and iterative prototyping.

Smart Goal
During my FMP, I will consciously monitor when I am steering the process versus when I am genuinely listening to it. I aim to allow interviews, co-design sessions, and prototypes to meaningfully influence, and if necessary redirect, the outcome of the project. This is hard to verify since its a very personal process that is easy to manipulate through academic reasoning. I will consider this successful if I can both clearly demonstrate that key design decisions originated from research insights rather than from assumptions I held at the beginning and when reflecting personally I can truly say I adhered to this goal. This goal will be done across the whole duration of the FMP.

Strong Emphasis on user/stakeholder inclusive Design

2.

Reasoning
When designing, I consider user inclusion an important part of my professional identity, and I often involve users in my process. However, I realize that involvement can still be somewhat confirmatory, using users to validate rather than to genuinely shape a direction.

This semester, I want to prioritize understanding before direction. Instead of entering user research with a semi-formed solution in mind, I want the first phase to focus deeply on how adult learners experience comfort, embodiment, and private learning, without immediately translating insights into solutions.

Smart Goal
In the early phase of my FMP, I will structure research around lived experiences rather than early concepts, allowing patterns in user insights to define initial design directions. I aim to move from inclusion as a step in the process to inclusion as a driver of the process. I will consider this achieved if the first concept directions can be clearly traced back to stakeholder/user input.

Expertise Areas: User & Society

Social Development

3.

One of the main reasons for going on exchange is personal. I want to see how independent I am in a completely new social environment.

While I am very confident in my surface level communication, I do wish to see how forming personal connections deeper than this surface level suits me in a new environment with new people.

I think this rather personal goal, while not explicitly aimed at professional development. Has a use full byproduct in my social development and networking capabilities.

(Personal Goal): Presenting my self and my competences

4.

This is not a competence development but I would like to update and upgrade my portfolio to make it more manageable and usable for other people, and to update my linkedIn profile and CV, and get feedback on it, by people currently in the work field.

Expertise Areas: Personal/Professional Development

Expertise Areas: Math, Data & Computing

Short Term Goals
(sep 2025 - feb 2026)

Confidence in working with technical courses and people

1.

In my vision as a designer, I describe the importance of applying technology deliberately and only when it genuinely adds value. To be able to make those choices well, I need a solid understanding of technology itself. This semester, through courses like computer graphics, rendering, and intelligent systems, I want to deliberately strengthen my confidence in technically complex systems.

I want to better understand what is happening underneath the surface. Without this depth, decisions about using or not using technology risk becoming intuitive guesses instead of informed choices.

This goal supports my professional development by strengthening the technical side of the “optimal intersection” I describe in my vision. A strong technological foundation makes it possible to meaningfully combine technology with embodied and human-centered design, instead of applying it blindly or superficially.

Building experience with design methods

2.

One thing i still need to grow in, is my familiarity with different types of design processes and methods. Even though this master introduced me to multiple, there is still space to grow.

During my exchange i will follow a design course from mechanical engineering on biomimicry, or as the course is called “biologically inspired design”. During this course I hope to gain an alternative insight into preferred or alternative design methods to grow my horizon on these tools.

Expertise Areas: Math, Data & Computing & Technology and Realization

Expertise Areas: Technology & Realization

Social Development

3.

I think this rather personal goal, while not explicitly aimed at professional development. Has a use full byproduct in my social development and networking capabilities.

(Personal Goal): Presenting my self and my competences

4. Expertise Areas: Personal/Professional Development

Expertise Areas: Math, Data & Computing

Short Term Goals
(Sept 1 2024 - Feb 7 2025)

Prototyping with New Materials

1.

I’ve worked with a few materials like PLA for 3D printing, laser-cut wood, and leather, but I want to expand my experience by exploring new materials. My goal is to prototype with at least two new materials (such as silicon, rubber, or fabric) and create a prototype by week 6, with at least one of these materials playing a significant role in the final design’s aesthetic.

Working with New Machines

2.

I’ve had limited exposure to the variety of machines available, and I want to push myself to try out new tools to improve my prototyping process. My goal is to work with at least two new machines from the sensory matters lab (e.g., TPU printer, vacuum chamber, clay printer) and incorporate at least one into the final product by week 14.

Expertise Areas:

The selection and use of materials directly influence the design’s aesthetic quality and how it connects with users visually and tactically, addressing C&A. But the process of experimenting with new materials will also push my ability to create functional and visually compelling prototypes, addressing T&R.

Expertise Areas:

Using new machines will help me advance my skills in prototyping and technical realization (T&R), allowing me to create more innovative, functional products. Additionally, exploring new machines will also inspire creative ways to combine technology and materials, enhancing the overall visual and tactile appeal of the design (C&A).

Deepening Knowledge of AI and Machine Learning

3.

While I have a basic understanding of machine learning and AI, I want to push my skills further and create a fully functional prototype. My goal is to, through an elective, deepen my understanding of machine learning and create a functional prototype utilizing a neural network by the end of the semester, including data preparation, model training, and output generation.

Incorporating Creative Arts into User Experience

4.

I want to explore how creative arts can connect with users on a deeper emotional level. My goal is to include an element from the creative arts, like music, dance, or spoken word, in the final product of my squad project this semester, to create a more engaging and emotionally resonant user experience.

Expertise Areas:

This goal focuses heavily on developing a deeper technical understanding of machine learning models, data structures, and algorithms, addressing (MD&C). But applying machine learning to create a prototype will require a technical understanding (T&R) of both software and hardware to ensure that the model is implemented effectively and efficiently.

Expertise Areas:

User and Society (U&S): This goal centers on understanding how design can impact users emotionally and culturally, ensuring that the product resonates with a wider audience. Creativity and Aesthetics (C&A): By incorporating artistic elements, I aim to enhance the product’s creative value and make it more engaging from an aesthetic perspective. Technology & Realization (T&R): The integration of creative arts might involve technical elements, such as interactive components, sound, or motion, blending both creativity and technology in the final product.

2. Long Term

Taking my vision and professional Identity into account, I already see an emphasizes leveraging technology thoughtfully and responsibly while recognizing its human impact. To link this to expertise areas, I intend to deepen my expertise in Math, Data, and Computing (MDC) and Technology and Realization (T&R) to enhance my technical skills. These areas resonate strongly with my passion for building meaningful and innovative solutions. Simultaneously, as per my vision, I’ll continue integrating insights from User and Society (U&S) to ensure that my designs have real-world relevance and impact, connecting technical innovation with human-centered approaches.

This dual focus will allow me to act even better as a connector, bridging technical disciplines (e.g., electrical engineering, computer science, and mechanical engineering) and the societal and environmental impact of my designs, fostering a holistic approach to design.

Specialization Tracks

I would like to pursue the Design Leadership and Entrepreneurship track (DLE) since the model (see quote) of graduates as defined in the study guide website, is the one that resonates most with me. Interestingly enough, the related electives did originally not appeal to me, but the description of the person related to this track does suit me rather well, this model as described here, is very often the role that I take in any university or personal projects, and I identify with. The connector role, and my motivation behind projects, as described in my Professional identity relates to this as well.

“Industrial designers that develop a start-up; based on a product or a service or aim at implementing a design vision within companies and organizations, they need to take the lead to implement their vision”

This track might allow me to fill that role with even better knowledge and skills, thereby allowing the role that I like most, to be executed more smoothly and efficiently, and perhaps even pleasantly. This will also create a useful skillset for ventures after my master’s.

Courses and Electives Year 1

The selected courses align with my vision as a designer to thoughtfully integrate advanced technologies in meaningful, human-centered ways. Courses like Interactional Morality and Values-Based Leadership (DLE track course) strengthen my ability to critically evaluate the societal and ethical impact of my designs, by fostering a deep understanding of the broader implications of design decisions on users, organizations, and society.

In addition, courses such as Creativity and Aesthetics of Data & AI, Designing with Advanced AI, and Designing with and for Digital Twins will deepen my technical expertise in machine learning, digital twins, and other advanced technologies while exploring their creative and expressive potential. These subjects directly support my short- and long-term goals of expanding technical skills in areas like Math, Data, and Computing (MDC) and Technology and Realization (T&R) while connecting them to creative, real-world applications.

M11

M12

Constructive Design Research

Designing with advanced artificial intelligence

Designing with and for digital twins

Value based leadership in business innovation

Find/Arrange Exchange

A designerly perspective on IoT: a growing systems approach

Interactional Morality

Legend:

Extra?

Track Course

Courses and Electives Year 2

In the second year of my master’s program, I plan to broaden my design perspective by studying abroad at either Aalto University or the Technical University of Copenhagen. Both institutions offer opportunities to complement my current skillset: Aalto’s focus on practical, hands-on design approaches will enhance my ability to prototype and iterate effectively, while Copenhagen’s emphasis on more technical subjects will allow me to deepen my expertise in areas like artificial intelligence, digital systems, and data-driven design. I think in addition that this experience will contribute to me potentially growing as a person by creating more and broader experiences

For my Final Master Project (FMP), I aim to integrate advanced technologies, such as AI, digital twins, or interactive systems, into educational settings to explore how these tools can enhance learning experiences. Building on my prior experience in educational digital games and my coursework in advanced AI and digital design tools, my FMP will reflect my dedication to creating meaningful, user-centered solutions that balance technological innovation with human .

M21

M22

Abroad

Final Master Project

FMP Preparation

Beyond Eductation

When I think about my professional life after finishing this master’s degree, I think that I will approach work as something that should contribute to my development. I don’t really see my first job as just a strategic career step, but more as a phase in which I can build practical skills, gain experience, and develop myself in ways that go beyond academic knowledge. For me, professional steps function as building blocks or pillars I think. They do not need to be perfect long-term choices, but they should help me grow in concrete ways.

If I look at the possibilities ahead, I defined two directions for myself: either I continue studying, for example by doing another master’s abroad or engD, or I move into the workforce. At the moment, I feel more drawn toward starting to work. More specifically, I find myself leaning toward something hands-on and technical, such as simply working in a repair shop. What attracts me to this or technical environments is the directness of the work. You deal with real, concrete problems. Something does not function, and you work toward making it function again. You interact directly with people or with physical systems, and you see the outcome of your effort immediately. That visibility and immediacy of impact appeals to me. I think that kind of environment would complement my academic background and help me develop a more grounded, practical form of competence. In my vision I try to underline the personal importance to me of concrete impact, and not contribution to a hypothetical future scenario. For me, this comes down to how I relate to value. I am currently more motivated by improving something that already exists and seeing that change directly, rather than contributing to a possible future scenario. The idea of addressing present, concrete problems feels more meaningful to me at this stage.

After/during my current master, I am tempted to address my interest for education with the double education master TU/E offers, I want to gather some more information about the options and possibilities in this regard (With an information session on the 10th of March). However, another way to address this interest is by pursuing another master’s program after my current master. Scandinavia being my preferred destination due to the availability of tuition-free education in Sweden. I’ve already looked into the duration and associated costs, and I’m considering programs such as the master’s in education or Serious Games (educational games) offered at the University of Skövde.

Lifelong learning is really an approach that aligns with my interests. And if I come to work somewhere eventually, I feel like my curiosity and determination will prove valuable and useful. These attributes also help me in my personal projects I like to undertake beside my master.

For instance, I am currently developing a plugin [6] for the note-taking application Obsidian [7]. The plugin has been accepted into the platform’s official plugin list, allowing others to download and use it. This project has taught / is teaching me a big deal on dealing with bigger code repositories and writing code according to external standards. This and similar projects are things I enjoy undertaking in my spare time, and hope to continue doing so far beyond my master.

Extracurricular Activities

Sources

[1]. https://www.context.org/iclib/ic27/orr/

[2]. Koskinen, I. (2011). Design Research Through Practice: From the Lab, Field, and Showroom. Elsevier.

[3]. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/jit.1994.6

[4]. Zhai, C., Wibowo, S., & Li, L.D. (2024). The effects of over-reliance on AI dialogue systems on students’ cognitive abilities: A systematic review. Smart Learning Environments, 11, 28. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-024-00316-7

[5]. Mitra, S., Raskin, J., & Pansera, M. (2023). Role of ICT innovation in perpetuating the myth of techno-solutionism. arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2309.12355

[6]. ElmoNeedsArson/Obsidian-3D-embed

[7]. Obsidian – Sharpen your thinking

[8]. Wilde, D., Tomico, O., Lucero, A., Höök, K., & Buur, J. (2015). Embodying embodied design research techniques. Aarhus Series on Human Centered Computing, 1(1), 4. https://doi.org/10.7146/aahcc.v1i1.21620

[9]. Bakker, S., Van den Hoven, E., & Antle, A.N. (2010). MoSo Tangibles. In Proceedings of ACM, 85–92. https://doi.org/10.1145/1935701.1935720

[10]. Braga, J. (2019). “Is human-centered design broken?” Medium. https://uxdesign.cc/is-human-centred-design-broken-cac130eecc48 (accessed 27 February 2026).

[11]. Karana, E., Barati, B., Rognoli, V., & Van der Laan, A.Z. (2015). “Material Driven Design (MDD): A Method to Design for Material Experiences.” International Journal of Design. https://www.ijdesign.org/index.php/IJDesign/article/view/1965/693 (accessed 27 February 2026).
[12]. P. J. Stappers en E. Giaccardi, “Research through Design”, TU Delft Research Portal, 2017. https://research.tudelft.nl/en/publications/research-through-design-2/