Product Dynamics

KonneKt: a modular game which can be played on windows of hospital isolation rooms. By Job Jansweijer for Prinses Máxima Centrum voor kinderoncologie.

Health

by Armagan Albayrak

Understanding your target group is critical in design. It can be extra challenging when designing for healthcare as the landscape is a complex system of stakeholders with unique perspectives. This elective course will help you navigate and understand the complexities involved, challenging you to find your own perspective as a designer in the field of healthcare.

Get an overview of the healthcare system in the Netherlands by exploring relevant topics, developments and challenges in the field, like advanced health technologies, patient experience, digitalisation, and regulations. This elective course centres on building knowledge to prepare for designing products, services and interventions in the context of health.

Create a patient journey map to gain an understanding of the complexity of the system and its stakeholders from a patient perspective. Explore the interactions of stakeholders during the journey and how that shapes the needs, wants and experiences of the patient.

Hear from stakeholders active in the domain of healthcare to learn from their experiences and expertise. Read key publications (both scientific & non-scientific) preparing to engage in constructive dialogue with the stakeholders. Learn to develop and confidently argue your own perspective. Reflect upon what you learn, considering where you want to go as a designer and what kind of a role you might play in the complex field of healthcare.

“There are always some students who are actively involved in discussions while others not. It will be nice if we can create an atmosphere where engaging discussions can be facilitated. For students to not be shy or think something might be a stupid question, to be comfortable enough to actively participate in the dialogue.”

Identity & Portfolio

by Marieke Sonneveld

Like a voyager searching for treasure, this course is an adventure of sorts. A journey of self-awareness as you discover your identity as a designer. Identity is a valuable asset that can be used as a source of inspiration, a compass that guides you in creating a portfolio that not only presents your work but who you are as a designer.

Imagine that the portfolio is a tool to communicate and express yourself as a designer, not a goal in itself. With that in mind, consider who you want to communicate with and what message you would like to convey about yourself. This elective course will guide you in creating an awareness about your identity as a designer.

Explore the landscape of identity in both theoretical and pragmatic ways. Use the information and inspiration provided to formulate your own questions about what identity is.

Understand who you are by profiling yourself in a sensitive, nuanced and open-minded way. Learn to engage in meaningful and intelligent dialogue by considering the different perspectives of the people you design for. Use that to communicate your position as a designer as illustrated through your work.

Ultimately, this course helps you develop relational competences. And it’s a chance to reflect on your experiences, giving you a compass to navigate the choices you face on your journey to becoming a designer.

“What motivates me is the wonderful students I get to work with. I feel so privileged to be with them in this exploration. I also feel it is such a great adventure and to see what emerges from their work is beautiful.”