As an Industrial Designer, my professional identity is shaped by a passion for learning and a never-ending pursuit of knowledge across diverse domains. I strive to be a designer who envisions beyond conventional boundaries, constantly seeking to explore and understand a broad range of topics in the areas of technology, society and art. For instance, during my FBP I delved into the yet underexplored intersection of AI and education, designing a novel toolkit used to demystify AI and provide children with the tools to navigate this increasingly AI-driven world.

A designer needs to be able to take into account as many components of the design as possible. This means being creative,  having a human-centered approach and the ability to identify opportunities that others might overlook. This last part is not just that of a designer but also that of an entrepreneur. A good designer is someone who can not only create valuable designs but also bring those designs to market, either by starting their own company or by collaborating with existing companies. This ensures that designs not only offer research value but also make a real-life impact on the people who use them.

“A designer is someone who can envision beyond where most people pause their thinking’’

My strengths lie in my large curiosity, which fuels my ability to grasp and apply numerous designerly and research-oriented frameworks. I am particularly adept at navigating the intersection of design and technology, with a keen interest in innovations and trends like Artificial Intelligence. My primary interest lies in the area of large language models and text-to-image models because I believe they have the potential to transform conventional education. For example, they can provide digital homework assistants and bring ideas to life through images, even without any graphic design knowledge. This passion for design and technology extends into my expertise in Business and Entrepreneurship, where I have gained a deep understanding of translating design concepts into viable business solutions. During my studies, I became acquainted with the leadership capabilities a designer and entrepreneur should have through the many group projects I completed. Ultimately, I integrated all my Business and Entrepreneurship knowledge into a final report, analyzing my entire FBP project based on its business model and market viability.

In terms of weaknesses, I recognize the need for growth in specific designerly skills like rapid prototyping, programming and 3D rendering. I also seek to improve my collaboration skills, particularly in coordinating project teams. To address these weaknesses, I actively engage in self-study and collaborative projects that focus on these areas. Furthermore, I try and attend workshops organized by the study association Lucid or the TU/e if they match my interests.

My next professional steps are guided by a strategic vision to pursue a Master’s degree in Industrial Design at the TU/e. This decision comes from a desire to deepen my knowledge and skills as an Industrial Designer and aligns with my passion for business innovation. The Master in Industrial Design offers the Design Leadership and Entrepreneurship track, which I believe can greatly enhance my knowledge and skills in this area. I mainly hope to further develop my leadership qualities and communication skills.

In essence, my professional identity is a combination of curiosity, innovation, user-centricity and entrepreneurship. It is rooted in a commitment to lifelong learning and self-improvement, shaping not only the products and solutions I design but also influencing the trajectory of my future professional endeavors.”