Made-By-You

A product service system that stimulates people to be more willing to repair their electronics

In today’s world, nearly 60% of consumers discard their electronics instead of opting for repairs, contributing to substantial waste and loss of value. This behavior underscores the need for a shift towards a circular economy, where products are maintained and reused to extend their lifecycle. My master's thesis focused on addressing this issue by exploring the circular economy, analyzing consumer behavior, and understanding the broader sustainability context, particularly in relation to electronic devices.

• Course Graduation Project
• Team individual
• Deliverables A report, a final presentation, and a video

Challenging the Non-Repair Culture

Research Approach

To gain a comprehensive perspective on the problem, I conducted extensive literature reviews and field research on existing sustainability initiatives. This dual approach allowed me to deeply understand how people experience sustainability and interact with their electronic products. It also provided specialized knowledge of the key stakeholders involved in promoting repair culture.

Key Findings and Consumer Insights

My research led to the organization of activities aimed at boosting repair willingness, which I mapped into a consumer decision-making model called the I-change model. Alongside a SWOT analysis, this model revealed four key opportunities to enhance consumers' willingness to repair their electronics, which are outlined in the following section.

Opportunities for the Future

Defining the Vision

While identifying the four key opportunities, it became clear that these insights needed a cohesive direction to shape a compelling vision for change. To conceptualize this vision, I used an analogy: the design should inspire the same pride and excitement users feel when showcasing their driving skills after obtaining a driver’s license. This analogy guided the development of a design that not only meets the identified opportunities but also resonates emotionally with users.

Design Requirements

The insights gathered from consumer behavior studies and theories on repair willingness formed the basis for four categories of design requirements. These requirements were critical in shaping a design that would effectively encourage consumers to repair their electronics rather than discard them.

Creating Paths Forward

Ideation Process

To develop a design that is desirable, feasible, and viable, I engaged in multiple ideation iterations. Techniques such as morphological charts, problem statements, brainstorming, and SCAMPER were employed to generate a wide range of ideas. Through this iterative process, I refined the concepts down to four final ideas, ultimately combining the most successful elements of two into a single, cohesive concept.

Assemblable Electronics: A Proof of Concept

The final concept, "Made-By-You," is an innovative product-service system (PSS) where users are empowered to design and assemble their own electronics. The product arrives in easily assemblable parts, allowing users to quickly and effortlessly put it together, thereby fostering familiarity with the product and basic handiwork skills. This system also enables customization without the need for a traditional assembly line.

Service Integration

Accompanying the product is a comprehensive service, in the form of an application, that guides users through the assembly process and assists with repairs. This service centralizes information that is typically scattered across various channels into a single, user-friendly application, lowering the barrier for those who wish to repair their products. By creating a central hub of streamlined information, the service simplifies the repair process, making it more accessible and less intimidating for consumers.

From Concept to Prototype

To make the concept more tangible and easier to discuss, a proof of concept was developed. The prototype is based on the Philips Senseo coffee machine. By integrating guidelines from literature on assembly, disassembly, repair, and instructions, the Senseo was redesigned to be easy to assemble and disassemble, supported by an enhanced manual. The redesigned Senseo is also made transparent, fostering a deeper connection between the user and the product.

Impact and User Experience

The "Made-By-You" concept not only increases user awareness of a product's components through the assembly process but also indirectly encourages consideration of repairs. By providing a central hub for all product-related information, the repair process becomes more straightforward and approachable. To enhance the story and user experience, I created two user journeys, which have also been transformed into a short video shown at the top of this page, along with a detailed service blueprint that outlines the behind-the-scenes activities necessary to support the PSS.

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Barco Echo

A product service system designed to help Barco successfully enter the Chinese market

"The villagers distrust us grassroots doctors, think that we can't cure their diseases, and often seek treatment from higher-level hospitals even just for a cough"

"It is understandable, as the medical facilities at the rural hospital are inferior."

This project was part of the Design Strategy Project course during my master's program, aimed at designing a new product/service for Barco, a leader in medical imaging technology. The objective was to explore and develop a strategy to improve healthcare in rural China by leveraging Barco's existing strengths.

• Client Barco
• Course Design Strategy Project
• Team 5 students
• Deliverables Final presentation and report to Barco, followed by an additional presentation to another branch of the company

Finding a New Opportunity in China

The Challenge

Rural citizens in China often distrust local doctors, preferring to travel long distances to cities for medical treatment, even at significant financial cost. Barco, with its expertise in medical devices, presented an opportunity to bridge this gap by making healthcare more accessible and equitable for rural populations.

Key Questions Addressed

• Company and Competitor Analysis: What are the strengths and weaknesses of the company and its competitors?

• Market Context: How is the current market context and how might it evolve?

• Customer Insights: Who are the potential customers, and what are their experiences and needs?

Findings and Insights

Our analysis revealed that Barco's presence in China had stagnated over the past five years, highlighting the need to rethink its market approach. Through extensive desk research and interviews, we identified a significant gap in medical infrastructure in rural China, providing a clear direction for our design process.

Vision

Our vision was to empower rural doctors in China, enhancing their ability to diagnose and treat patients effectively. By doing so, these doctors could act as the first line of defense, reducing the need for costly and time-consuming trips to urban centers. The solution envisioned was a network of rural doctors equipped with advanced diagnostic tools provided by Barco, allowing them to collaborate remotely with city doctors. In the next figures, it is shown how Barco would intervene in the new situation.

Barco Echo: Connecting Rural Doctors

The Solution

We developed Barco Echo, a Doppler Echo Cardiogram product-service system tailored to the needs of rural healthcare providers in China. This system enables rural doctors to communicate seamlessly with their counterparts in urban hospitals, leveraging Barco's cutting-edge imaging technology. A video has been made to show the PSS in use, shown at the top of the page

Strategic Partnership

Recognizing Barco's limitations in entering the Chinese market alone, we proposed a partnership with SonoScape, a Chinese company specializing in echocardiogram machines for urban hospitals. This collaboration would enable both companies to expand their market reach, bringing advanced medical care to underserved rural communities.

Future Expansion

While the initial focus of Barco Echo was on China, the concept has broader applications in other rural areas worldwide, such as Russia and Africa. To support this global vision, we developed a roadmap outlining the long-term strategy for scaling the product-service system beyond China.

Conclusion

This project demonstrates my ability to conduct thorough market analysis, collaborate effectively within a team, and develop innovative solutions that address real-world challenges. It also showcases my strategic thinking in identifying and leveraging partnerships to maximize impact. In the end, the client wanted us to continue with the project and offered two internships to our Chinese colleagues.

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Spark

The creation of a brand identity for a healthy drink

Spirulina, a nutrient-rich algae that can be easily added to food without compromising taste, is poised to become the next big trend in the health food industry. Spireaux, a young startup, aims to capitalize on this trend by introducing a new spirulina-based drink that showcases the potential of this superfood. Our brief was to design a new brand and product to help Spireaux realize its vision. This project was completed as part of the Brand and Product Commercialization course during my master's program. The team, consisting of four students, worked over 10 weeks to deliver a comprehensive presentation and final report, which included brand positioning and a launch campaign. Our brief was to design a new brand and product for this company to realize its dream.

• Client Spireaux
• Course Spireaux
• Team 4 students
• Deliverables a presentation and a final report, which included brand positioning, and a launch campaign

Spirulina Meets the Market

Market Analysis

To effectively position Spireaux in the market, we conducted a 4C analysis, examining the company (brand and product), competitors, consumers, and the broader market context. This analysis revealed that self-improving casual sport enthusiasts, who value health, sustainability, and convenience, represent the ideal target audience. These consumers are part of a growing movement focused on health and sustainability, and they appreciate products that are both ready-made and easy to consume. Using the strengths of Spireaux, it is possible to create a unique product that they would seek out.

A Spark Among the Brands

Brand Strategy

To differentiate Spireaux from its competitors, we strategically positioned the brand using a competition grid. This grid plotted two key axes: Refreshing (fulfillment after an activity) versus Perform (enhancing one’s capabilities), and Tasty (low barrier to entry) versus Effective (aligning with an ambitious mindset). The intersection of these qualities led to the creation of Spark, a brand designed for ambitious, self-improving casual athletes who lead hectic lives. The Spark brand is approachable, confident, and spirited, as reflected in its brand DNA and logo design.

Igniting the Brand

Launch Campaign

With the brand design finalized, the next step was to introduce Spark to the market. We developed a launch campaign that included multiple touchpoints to effectively engage the target audience. The campaign’s core message, "Ignite Your Inner Spark to Reach for 100%", encapsulates the brand's essence and encourages consumers to unlock their full potential.

Conclusion

The project exemplifies the strategic and creative processes involved in bringing a new health-focused brand to life. Through thorough market analysis and targeted brand positioning, our team successfully developed Spark, a brand that resonates with ambitious, health-conscious consumers. The launch campaign, with its empowering message, is designed to effectively introduce Spark to the market, encouraging consumers to embrace their potential. This project highlights my ability to collaborate on complex branding initiatives, blending market insights with innovative design to create a compelling brand that stands out in the competitive health food industry.

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Inventum Sens-Air

Finding a new product line for Inventum to expand their existing market

Creating a healthy indoor climate requires maintaining a comfortable temperature and ensuring a constant supply of fresh air. However, achieving these conditions sustainably and effectively is not always straightforward. Inventum, a company specializing in optimizing indoor climates, is currently focused on sustainable heat pumps.

• Client Inventum
• Course Bachelor End Project
• Team Individual
• Deliverables A final presentation and poster

Rethinking the Indoor Climate

Research and Analysis

To gain a comprehensive understanding of the indoor climate industry, I began by exploring and analyzing the field of indoor heat pumps. Through user research, which included interviews and surveys, I identified key customer values and needs. The primary outcomes of this research phase were the creation of a detailed customer persona and an overview of how the indoor climate is currently managed. These insights informed the development of a vision to position Inventum as the go-to brand for all aspects of a healthy indoor climate.

A Breath of Fresh Air

Design Process

The ideation phase involved creating numerous sketches and concepts, many of which were either refined or discarded to arrive at the best solution. This iterative process led to the development of the Inventum Sens-Air, a modular air sensor system. Each module of the Sens-Air contains a specific type of sensor, allowing users to mix and match modules to create a customized product that meets their individual needs.

Final Design

The final design of the Inventum Sens-Air is presented in the accompanying render, alongside an infographic that highlights the key features and benefits of the product. This modular approach not only offers flexibility and personalization but also aligns with Inventum's mission to promote a healthy and sustainable indoor climate.

Conclusion

The project demonstrates my ability to tackle complex challenges within the field of sustainable living. By thoroughly researching the indoor climate industry and identifying user needs, I was able to design the Inventum Sens-Air, a modular air sensor system that aligns with both customer values and Inventum’s commitment to sustainability. This project showcases my skills in research, analysis, and iterative design, culminating in a solution that offers both flexibility and a healthier indoor environment. Through this project, I have further developed my ability to create innovative products that not only meet functional requirements but also contribute to a more sustainable future.

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Imaginaria

Creating a toy that incorporates upcoming AI technology

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integral to our lives, its influence is expected to extend to the way our children play and learn. Parents are eager to introduce their children to AI early on, ensuring they grow up familiar with this powerful technology. However, this introduction must be safe, playful, and engaging. In the "Design for Children’s Play" course, we were tasked with creating a toy that incorporates AI technology in a way that encourages creativity and storytelling for children aged 8 and above.

• Course Design for Children’s Play
• Team 3 students
• Deliverables Final report and user testing

From AI to Toy

The Challenge

Our goal was to design a toy or play experience that allows children to create or act out stories with a tangible embodiment they can touch and feel. The challenge was to seamlessly integrate AI technology into a toy that is not only educational but also captivating and fun for children.

Ideation and Concept Development

Our ideation phase included word clouds, brainstorming, defining problem statements, developing extreme characters, and exploring various concepts. Through this creative process, we developed Imaginaria—a playmat that uses Augmented Reality (AR) and AI image generation technology to bring children's imaginative worlds to life. With Imaginaria, children can introduce objects into their stories, which the playmat then transforms into interactive, animated elements.

A Children’s World

Prototyping and Testing

To evaluate the effectiveness of Imaginaria, we developed a paper prototype that simulated how the AI would generate and transform objects. This allowed us to test how well children could engage with the concept and form stories using a random assortment of objects.

On testing day, we invited groups of children aged 9-11 years old to interact with the prototype. To ensure smooth and accurate testing, our team members rotated roles between presenter, assistant, and documenter for each round of testing. This approach allowed us to supervise and observe how children responded to the concept and gathered valuable insights for refining Imaginaria for future iterations and risk assessment.

Conclusion

The project showcases the potential of integrating advanced technologies like AI and Augmented Reality into children's play experiences. By creating a toy that encourages creativity and storytelling, we successfully bridged the gap between technology and imaginative play. The positive feedback from user testing highlighted the effectiveness of Imaginaria in engaging children and sparking their creativity. This project underscores my ability to design innovative, child-centered products that are not only educational but also enjoyable. It showcases my paper prototyping ability and user testing skills.

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Formula Student Team Delft

My experience in a Dream Team

During my second year in the Industrial Design bachelor program at TU Delft, I joined Formula Student Team Delft, one of the university’s Dream Teams. These teams consist of cross-faculty students who come together for a year to develop innovative, technologically advanced machines. I was part of the Public Relations and Operations department, contributing part-time to a team of over 100 members, both part-time and full-time.

• Client Formula Student Team Delft, Public Relations and Operations
• Team 100+ students (part-time and full-time)
• Deliverables Branding, social media content, newsletters, infographics, renders for car reveal presentation

DUT20: A Brand New Look

A new Brand Identity

Each year, Formula Student Team Delft rebrands itself with a fresh identity, aiming to stand out from previous iterations while encapsulating the team’s core values. DUT20 was the name of our team that year. The challenge was to create a logo and visual identity for DUT20 that represented speed, daring, and innovation, while also honoring the collaboration between TU Delft and MIT.

• Deliverables Logo design, visual identity, and team uniforms

Responsibilities

As a member of the design team, I played a key role in shaping the brand identity for DUT20. The final logo featured a wheel symbolizing speed, complemented by bold elements such as the aggressive eyes from our car livery, to project a daring and dynamic image. We carefully chose a typeface that reflected the technical expertise of both TU Delft and MIT. Primarily for internal use, this logo represents the team for the year.

In addition to the logo, I designed the team uniforms. A prominent front stripe, symbolizing the race track, highlights the team’s values of speed and audacity. The design balances TU Delft's dark blue tones with a red stripe representing MIT, creating a unified and energetic visual identity. Instead of the DUT20 logo, the uniforms feature the Formula Student Team Delft logo for external representation. For the Driverless team, the uniform includes two arrowhead symbols in the universities' colors, representing speed and innovative forward-thinking.

Presenting Our Car

Shareholder Presentation

During my time with the team, I was responsible for creating a variety of content for our social media platforms, newsletters, and infographics. My most significant task was producing high-quality renders for the official car reveal presentation to our shareholders. Working from a request list and blueprints of the car, I used Keyshot 9 to create these renders, which were critical in visually communicating the technical sophistication and design innovation of our vehicles.

Conclusion

My experience with the Formula Student Team Delft exemplifies my ability to contribute to large, cross-disciplinary teams in a high-stakes environment. I played a key role in developing a bold new brand identity for DUT20 and effectively communicated the team's vision through a variety of media. My work in creating the logo, team uniforms, and high-quality renders for the car reveal presentation not only strengthened the team's public presence but also showcased my skills in design, branding, and visual communication. This project highlighted my adaptability, creativity, and ability to deliver impactful results.

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Additional Design Projects

A showcase of shorter design projects

In this section, I showcase three short projects completed during my studies. These projects reflect a diverse range of skills and approaches, from VR applications to speculative design concepts.

• EarthScope: A VR application that uses the overview effect to promote environmental consciousness.

• Olvarit App: A service designed to provide parents with both convenience and control over their baby's diet.

• PREG-POD: A speculative design concept exploring the future of pregnancy.

EarthScope

Observing Earth from space offers a unique perspective that can foster a deep sense of environmental responsibility—an experience known as the overview effect. Traditionally, only astronauts and space scientists have access to this awe-inspiring view, but Virtual Reality (VR) can bring this experience to everyone, encouraging a broader understanding of the planet’s fragility and the urgency of environmental protection.

• Client Blekinge Institute of Technology
• Course Virtual and Physical Prototyping
• Team 4 students
• Deliverables VR application prototype, video showcase, a report, and a presentation

The Challenge

In this course, provided by Politecnico di Milano, the challenge was to design a VR application that inspires sustainability through the overview effect. Our project, EarthScope, aimed to create a platform where users could virtually explore Earth from space, gaining insights into environmental issues like deforestation and resource depletion. By allowing users to see the planet from this vantage point, EarthScope promotes a consciousness of the need to protect our environment in everyday life.

Outcomes

The final prototype effectively conveyed the overview effect, making users more aware of environmental issues.

Olvarit App

Balancing convenience and control is a major challenge for parents when it comes to their baby’s diet. While commercial baby food offers convenience, many parents are concerned about the lack of control over its contents. On the other hand, preparing homemade baby food can be stressful and time-consuming, especially when parents are unsure if they’re providing the right nutrients.

• Course Food and Eating Design
• Team Individual
• Deliverables Poster

The Challenge

I challenged myself to reimagine how Olvarit baby food could be experienced by parents, addressing the dilemma between convenience and control. The solution needed to provide parents with confidence in their child’s nutrition while reducing the stress associated with meal preparation.

Outcomes

I designed a service that allows parents to plan their child’s meals using Olvarit’s expertise. The app provides customized meal plans and delivers a package with the required produce and preparation instructions. This service empowers parents to make informed decisions about their child’s diet, reducing uncertainty and stress.

PREG-POD

Speculative design allows us to explore and reflect on possible futures by creating artifacts that challenge our current perceptions and values. In this project, we were tasked with envisioning a future scenario based on trend research and developing an artifact that prompts people to reconsider the implications of emerging technologies.

• Course Design Futures
• Team 7 students
• Deliverables concept catalogue, video showcase, and public presentation

The Future

The PREG-POD concept explores a future where most pregnancies occur in laboratories due to medical risks and career demands. Despite this shift, the desire for intimacy and traditional family structures persists. PREG-POD enables shared pregnancy experiences among multiple co-parents, where each parent contributes genetically to the embryo, which grows within the PREG-POD.

The Artifact

PREG-POD reimagines family dynamics by allowing multiple parents to bond with the baby during the pregnancy, regardless of gender. It includes features like nutritional fluid, a digital interface for monitoring, and modes for stimulation and sleep. The concept video showcasing the possibilities of future family models, along with the public's opinions, is shown above.

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Beyond the Projects: Skill Exploration

Skills acquired outside of design projects

I’m always eager to improve myself and acquire new skills, whether design-related or not. Learning is a passion I pursue in my free time. In this section, I’ll highlight the design-related skills I’ve acquired independently, which have yet to be utilized in my other projects.

• High Detail Rendering: I used Blender to not only render but also create and UV map objects.

• Digital Drawing: I used Photoshop to create realistic, detailed drawings. Although I’ve used these skills in other projects, they are the focus here.

• Web Design: I challenged myself to learn how to code my portfolio website, which you are on right now.

Previously highlighted skills in other projects include:

• Graphic Design: Using Illustrator, Photoshop, or InDesign most of the graphics shown in earlier projects have been made.

• Video Editing: Videos that are available on my website are made using Premiere Pro and After Effects.

• Rendering: Renders of products have been made using SolidWorks Visualise and Keyshot 9.

High Detail Rendering

In the past, I’ve created renders using SolidWorks Visualize and Keyshot 9, focusing on objects with smooth surfaces like plastic and metals. To push my boundaries, I decided to take on the challenge of rendering less smooth surfaces, such as wood and soft textures. For this, I turned to Blender, a 3D modeling software often used for sculptures and intricate models, unlike SolidWorks, which is geared towards producible artifacts and physics calculations.

Digital Drawing

While I’ve incorporated digital drawing into other projects, it hasn’t been the main focus until now. In this section, I wanted to highlight these skills. Using a drawing tablet and Photoshop, I’ve created detailed sketches.

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