My journey into design started long before university. During secondary school at Theresia Lyceum in Tilburg, I completed the HAVO programme with a focus on Nature & Technology and Nature & Health, while also taking Visual Arts as an additional subject. Looking back, this combination reflects something that has always defined me: a wide range of interests and a curiosity that made it difficult to choose a single direction.
Because of this curiosity, I participated in several extracurricular modules and programmes. One of these was the preparatory programme at the Art Academy St. Joost. Although I enjoyed the creative freedom, I realised that I was looking for something with a stronger technical foundation. I wanted to create tangible solutions, not just concepts.
This search eventually led me to Industrial Product Design at HAN University of Applied Sciences. The programme offered exactly what I was looking for: a combination of creativity and engineering. What particularly attracted me was the focus on ergonomics and the relationship between people and products. Understanding how people interact with objects has always fascinated me, as it combines design with elements of psychology and human behaviour.
During my first year, I obtained my VCA certificate and gained extensive experience working in both wood and metal workshops. I also became familiar with a wide range of digital fabrication technologies, including laser cutters and 3D printers. These hands-on experiences strengthened my passion for turning ideas into physical products.
Throughout various projects, I discovered a particular interest in designing solutions for people with disabilities. Although the connection may seem obvious in hindsight, this field opened up an entirely new world for me. It showed me how design can have a direct and meaningful impact on people's daily lives, combining creativity, technology, and empathy.
While I greatly valued the practical approach of the programme, I increasingly felt the need for more depth in the research phase of projects. I wanted to better understand the underlying theories, scientific evidence, and human factors that shape effective design decisions. I also felt that stronger research methods and validation processes could further improve the quality of design outcomes.
This desire to explore problems more deeply ultimately motivated me to continue my education at Eindhoven University of Technology. I wanted to combine the practical skills I had developed with a more research-driven approach to design, allowing me to better understand the people I design for before creating solutions for them.
My TU/e path through the curriculum
