As an experience designer and design researcher with a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, I specialize in creating immersive interactive experiences that challenge people’s perceptions of reality. My passion lies in exploring the boundaries of what’s possible with technology, whether it’s designing games, narratives, or hardware interfaces that bridge the physical and virtual worlds. Using a hands-on ‘research through design’ approach, I combine design and development with user experience studies to create compelling and meaningful experiences.
I design immersive interactive experiences that shape how people think and feel about issues in reality, and conduct user research to answer how and why they work, or don’t.
My work has been recognized in leading Human-Computer Interaction conferences, such as CHI, and I’ve also played key roles in organizing international conferences and events, including the Persuasive Games conference, CHI Play symposium, and Fukushima Film Festival VR expo. I’m also proud to have collaborated with NGOs like Amnesty International, Greenpeace, OurPlanetTV, and UNICEF to leverage immersive interactive content and technology for social causes.
When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my partner and neva masquerade cat in nature, perfecting my espresso-making skills, experimenting with low and slow barbeque, thrift shopping, and keeping up with the financial markets.
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I plan, carry out, and report on (user) studies using scientific qualitative and mixed-method approaches to gain insights into attitudes and behaviors, and to generate design recommendations. When a dataset gets chunky I usually resort to software like Verbi’s MaxQDA.
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I’m well-versed in design thinking and employ an analytical thought process to address design issues.
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I’m specialized in conceptualizing and evaluating games, interactive narratives, and VR/XR experiences.
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I conceptualize and produce prototypes to exemplify and evaluate ideas.
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I communicate professionally, both orally and in writing, and publish in leading Human-Computer Interaction conference proceedings and journals.
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I have experience coaching students and managing student design teams.
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I evaluate scientific and state-of-the-art work and distill untapped opportunities and challenges.
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I follow an iterative design approach to generate context-aware solutions for both problem statements and novel design spaces.
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I tinker with electronics, game engines, and visual tools including Adobe’s Creative Cloud, Autodesk’s 3Ds Max and Fusion 360, Epic’s Unreal Engine, Novarm’s Diptrace, and way too many Arduino’s.
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I enjoy spending days on end skimming catalogs, researching and picking the right tools and components for a project.
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I enjoy planning events and trips in minute detail.
I also know a thing or two about trading the financial markets, producing proper espresso, and preparing low and slow barbeque meals.
2013 – 2022
Design Researcher / PhD Candidate,
focused on Immersive Technology, Games, Empathy, and Persuasion,
at the Industrial Design Department of the Eindhoven University of Technology in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
2018 – 2022
Academy Committee Member,
focused on the Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets,
at the B&R Beurs student investment society in Eindhoven, the Netherlands
2013 – 2017
Design Researcher,
focused on Immersive Technology, Games, Empathy, and Persuasion,
at the Civic Interaction Design research group of the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2010 – 2013
Master of Science in Industrial Design
at the Eindhoven University of Technology in Eindhoven, the Netherlands
Awarded with “Best graduation project of 2013”
2009 – 2010
Joint Master of the Arts in Game Design for Digital Cultures
at the Open University in United Kingdom in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom and University of the Arts Utrecht in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
2006 – 2010
Bachelor in Game Design and Development
at the University of the Arts Utrecht in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
2008 – 2009
Game Designer and 3D modeler/texturer Intern
at Sticky Studios in Utrecht, the Netherlands
2002 – 2006
HAVO with a focus on Nature & Health (Highschool)
at the St. Vituscollege in Bussum, the Netherlands