[ABOUT] I have spent most of my career at the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering in Delft (1993-2024), internationally regarded as (one of) the most influential and prestigious design research institute(s) in the world, where I was chair of the Industrial Design department (2010-2015) and headed the Design Aesthetics group (2006-2022). Our research was geared towards a profound understanding of how artefacts (can) influence human-product interaction, human experience, the way we live our lives, and impact our (social) environment. In 2011, I received a VICI award from the Dutch Research Council (NWO) to develop a Unified Model of Aesthetics, expanding and concluding two decades of research on aesthetic principles.

My current research interest concentrates on the role of design in major social transitions in such diverse areas as democracy, sustainability, food, or health care. I firmly believe that designers have a range of special skills (e.g., imagination), capabilities (e.g., reframing) and methods (e.g., Vision in Product design) that make them perfectly suitable to shape transformation processes. My research interest thus revolves around disciplines such as social design, social innovation, systemic design, and value-driven design.

In 2020, at the 178th Dies Natalis of Delft University of Technology, I had the honor of delivering the Foundation Day lecture, together with the unmatched Dutch musician Spinvis. You can find this lecture, “The beauty of doing the right thing”, here, and the rector magnificus starts introducing me at minute 15:25. The lecture ends at 55:35, so be prepared!

Beyond academia, I do consulting work spanning a wide range of areas, from front-end innovation to project management, with a particular emphasis on vision formation and strategic planning. I frequently offer trainings and workshops, where I guide organizations through the process of developing forward-thinking strategies. My advisory roles have significant impact on policy making, helping to set agendas that recognize and leverage the value of the cultural and creative industries in addressing complex societal challenges.

I am a fellow of the international Design Research Society and member of their International Advisory Council. In the Netherlands, I am core member of the Sociaal Creatieve Raad (Social and Creative Council).