US - User and Society
US is one of my main expertise areas, besides MDC. For me, it means designing close to people, while staying aware of the larger context they are part of. I am interested in why people behave the way they do, but also how the context they are part of influences their behavior. Throughout my master I learned to move beyond the user as an isolated individual, but instead investigate their context like routines and stakeholders around them, and their values like expectations, relationships and desires.
I discovered my affinity with a field-research approach through observations and empathy through courses like CDR and UETP. In my M1.2 project I applied this by studying smartphone use in the everyday life, focusing on routines and the gap between intended and actual behavior, emphasizing on the importance of user autonomy. DfBC further supported my understanding of how design can support awareness, motivation and behavioral change.
In my Preparation FMP and Final Master Project I applied this in the hospital context. Nurses were not just the target user, but healthcare professionals working under time-pressure with patient responsibility using digital systems and within organizational boundaries. Understanding this larger context, helps to guide design decisions about responsibility, trust and autonomy. This connects US to MDC as technical choices are also influenced by and influence these decisions.
Me during observations: shadow days on several nursing wards in the Catharina Hospital - November 2025
Results of co-design sessions during M2.2 FMP.
Brainstorm during co-design session in M1.2 project.
Metromap to map findings about nursing practices and digital ecosystem during M2.1 project.
