M1.1 Entangled conversations

C&A T&R MD&C

The Social Progress Index[8] measures the success of a region based on social progress rather than economic performance. Entangled Conversations enriches this tool using personal storytelling, visualisation, and embodied activities to reveal individual perspectives and foster connections.
I choose this project within the TP squad as I wanted to learn to deal with complexity. This was important to me as my identity is about working with stakeholders and estimating impact on society.

Main takeaways:

• I applied aesthetics of interaction in ideation by experimenting with interpersonal contact during bodystorming sessions using materials like balloons and rope. Through physically interacting with these materials in a group, desired qualities of the final design were defined: tension and connectedness. Bodystorming showed me how aesthetics of interaction can serve not only as a design outcome but also as a creative brainstorming method (C&A).


• I built interactive prototypes by coding in Arduino and setting up electronics for four wearables. Each included a vibration motor and button and was wirelessly connected through a multi-directional transceiver/receiver module, which allowed remote activation of the vibrations. The setups were first designed on a breadboard and then soldered for the final prototype. This process strengthened my T&R and MD&C skills by combining physical prototyping with coding to enhance the interaction quality of the final design.


• During the evaluation phase, we conducted two co-reflection sessions at the municipality of Brabant. I used ATLAS.ti for coding the records and notes. From this I got a better understanding of the data and could easily retrieve quotes during the concluding of insights. This expanded my methods in MD&C and U&S, enabling me to present qualitative data in a structured and visual way to support design decisions.

M1.2 Share the love

U&S MD&C

This project investigates how design can better support romantic relationships impacted by dementia. Using a user-centred, research-for-design approach, it explores the lived experiences of both partners through interviews. The insights gained are used to identify opportunities for design and to propose guidelines that foster more loving environments.
This semester I conducted a project that really matched my identity, having in-depth user interactions, based on personal topics.

Main takeaways:

• I conducted in-depth interviews on the personal topics of love and loss with dementia patients and their partners. I prepared explorative questions on lived experiences and conducting semi-structured interviews at the participants their home. This developed my skills within U&S, as I created a comfortable atmosphere and ask open-minded questions that encourage participants to share deeply personal experiences.


• I became confident in interviewing and data analysis by organising group coding sessions with ID researchers and PhD candidates in which we interpreted and annotated transcripts, followed by a thematic analysis of the in-depth interview data. This strengthened my U&S and MD&C expertise, as I analysed long interviews and presented the data as a collection of stories. This approach is especially valuable to me as I am able to preserve participants’ lived experiences.

B&E Electives

B&E

Within my elective space, I followed Values based leadership and Design for social innovation. I chose to broaden my B&E knowledge as that felt lacking but is necessary for future employment and professional development.

Main takeaways:

• I strengthened my ability to improve designs through analysing market possibilities, by practising with real organisational cases using methods such as the Business Model Canvas, stakeholder mapping, tension mapping, PESTEL analysis, and organisational structure analysis. This developed my B&E expertise by teaching me how to create value propositions and conduct market analysis. This enables me to align my designs with real-world needs, increasing their potential to positively impact users’ wellbeing.


• I also discovered my own leadership strengths by approaching entrepreneurship as a form of leadership. During the first assignment of Values based leadership I found that I naturally take on a coaching leadership style, supporting team members individually so they can thrive. During group work, I foster a supportive team atmosphere by investing in teambuilding exercises. I also keep track of the planning and the bigger picture, making sure that everybody is motivated for their task, to ensure high-quality outcomes. This enhanced my B&E expertise by shaping my entrepreneurial attitude and confidence as a team leader.

Part-time job

B&E T&R

When I started my master’s, I deliberately chose to follow the program part-time alongside my job to develop professionally. I work part-time at the R&D department of Lenco® (a sun shading company), where I work on project management and 3D drawing.

Main takeaways:

• I designed mechanical parts of louvres systems in SolidWorks and testing them through 3D printing. I also created professional product visualisations in context using SketchUp and Enscape. I have become comfortable in making 3D drawings both for mechanical and visual purposes by completing hands-on assignments, which improved my T&R.


• By working within a small non-design company I showed that my design thinking skills can be applied in multiple fields, including optimising operational processes concerning customers. I am now confident in leading process changes based on the opportunities I identify for customers as a designer. This strengthened my B&E expertise by enhancing my entrepreneurial mindset and ability to inspire others to adapt to new needs and opportunities.

M2.1 Courses at HTI

U&S

Within my M2.1, I followed master's courses at the Human-Technology department. I wanted to gain more U&S knowledge that was based on scientific principles, to support me in effectively and efficiently supporting my users' well-being. I took courses on human decision-making and the role of the environment on human behaviour and experience.

Main takeaway:

• I discovered my interest in incorporating mental theories into design by studying research on safety perception, privacy, personal space, and stress restoration, as well as studying theories such as Theory of Reasoned Action and Self-Determination Theory. This strengthened my U&S expertise, enabling me to draw on theory to support users’ mental processes, which is especially valuable in the context of wellbeing. I later applied this in my FMP, grounding my designs in psychological literature on journaling and self-compassion, integrating principles such as common humanity and self-disclosure into my designed conversations.

FMP Compassionate conversations

U&S T&R B&E C&A MD&C

Coco is a chatbot designed to support emerging adults during stressful life transitions by providing compassionate, judgment-free conversations. Coco combines journaling and self-reflection with AI-driven dialogue, creating a safe space for users to offload and reflect.

Try out Coco here:

Open Chat

User insights

U&S MD&C C&A

In my FMP, I integrated user insights into my USD process for both direction and validation. I gathered these insights in sessions with emerging adults, where participants tried a prototype followed by a semi-structured interview on the experience. This combined my U&C and MD&C, as I analysed data thematically to identify patterns across participants from sessions focused on gathering design input from lived experiences. A clear example of applying user insights was in creating the visuals for Coco, where the C&A process was directly grounded in user feedback.

Working with AI

T&R C&A U&S

Alongside coding my portfolio website in HTML and embedding Coco with JavaScript, I expanded my T&R expertise by working with AI through Boost.ai. The platform allowed me to quickly work with LLMs and create a fully functional chatbot within one semester. I merged C&A and T&R by using AI as a new creative method. In sessions, I evaluated conversations prototyped in boost.ai from a first-person perspective. I developed multiple conversational setups based on compassionate speech principles, and through reflection, identified which approaches and messages would be helpful to me during times of stress. Throughout my ERB and PFM process, I asked critical questions to design ethically with AI, such as the desired user–AI relationship and the privacy of user data. This led to defining Coco’s role as a short term tool and using a platform with a DPA. It combined T&R with U&S, as I learned to apply AI responsibly, an essential aspect to me when designing for mental wellbeing.

Business analysis

B&E T&R U&S

To increase the real-world applicability of my designs, I applied my B&E skills by conducting a business analysis of Coco, using models for positioning, competitive landscape, and stakeholder value. This highlighted that customers and end users are not always the same, prompting me to think critically about the product’s ecosystem. This B&E analysis showed the connection with other expertise areas, as analysing stakeholder value helped highlight scalability(T&R) as an important value of AI to align the design with real-world needs(U&S).

Professional skills

During this project, I experienced stress-related mental health struggles, which motivated me to focus on well-being while actually accelerating my personal growth. As a perfectionist, progress can be difficult, but I learned to set priorities and deadlines, showing that my process works even when not every step is perfect. This improved my professional skills as it helped me manage challenges, cope with stress, and adapt when support was limited—for example, by actively seeking feedback from other coaches when my own was unavailable.