Core team
Dr. ir. Rens Brankaert
Co-initiator of the ECDT
Dr. ir. Rens Brankaert is Assistant Professor Active & Healthy Ageing within the Systemic Change research group at the Department of Industrial Design at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) in the Netherlands and Lector at Fontys School of Allied Health. He works on design for people with dementia by applying participatory methods and living labs. In this work, he aimed to build a bridge between a design-based approach and current healthcare practices with a specific focus on dementia.
Publications
Prof. dr. Wijnand IJsselsteijn
Co-initiator of the ECDT
Prof.dr. Wijnand IJsselsteijn has a background in artificial intelligence and cognitive neuropsychology. He obtained his PhD in 2004 on the topic of telepresence. Since 2012, he is full professor of Cognition and Affect in Human-Technology Interaction at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). He has an active research program on the impact of media technology on human psychology, and the use of psychology to improve technology design.
Publications
Ir. Ans Tummers
Research & Support /
PhD Candidate
Ans Tummers has a rich history in administrative work in relation to dementia and the public domain. She is a board member of Alzheimer Forschung Initiative Dusseldorf, and former member of controlling board of “internationale stichting Alzheimer Onderzoek”. Currently she is a PhD Candidate at Human and Technology Interaction, on mediated touch for people with dementia.
Publications
Dr. Maarten Houben
Assistant Professor Industrial Design
Maarten Houben is a Postdoc at the Eindhoven University of Technology at the Department of Industrial Design. His PhD research focused on the beneficial effects of everyday sounds and soundscapes in technologies for dementia. Maarten holds a master’s degree in engineering sciences: architecture and gained research experience in interactive media architecture at the Research[x]Design group at KU Leuven. He is interested in designing and researching ambient multisensory technologies for vulnerable user groups.
Publications
Karlijn van Rijen MSc.
Project manager
Karlijn van Rijen MSc. is a graduated designer and aspiring researcher with a master’s degree in Industrial Design and Human-Technology Interaction. She has carried out different studies in the dementia field and other care-related fields and has recently completed a study on user-centered information provision after mild stroke. On behalf of Luckt B.V., she is involved with the ECDT as a project manager.
Renata Vis
Secretary
Since October 2017, Renata has been working as management/office assistent IE&IS for the Human-Technology & Interaction research group. Since 2021 she has also been supporting the ECDT as office assistant.
Dana Starmans
Student Assistant
Dana Starmans has been the student assistant at ECDT since November 2022. She is currently working on her final Bachelor project Industrial Design at the TU/e. For this project, she is designing a group activity for older adults to improve their quality of life, in collaboration with the community center Ontmoet & Groet.
Research team
Dr. Giulia Perugia
Assistant Professor in Human-Technology Interaction at Eindhoven University of Tehnology
Dr. Giulia Perugia is an expert in the field of ethical and inclusive Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) and Social Psychology. For the ECDT, she is interested in exploring how we can promote the co-design of AI for people with dementia, ensuring that these technologies are ethical and safe, and utilizing these technologies to engage marginalized individuals with dementia.
Dr. Minha Lee
Assistant professor Industrial Design at Eindhoven University of Tehnology
Dr. Minha Lee completed her Ph.D. on the topic of interactional morality (Eindhoven University of Technology – TU/e ), has an M.Sc. in Information Science (University of Amsterdam), a B.F.A. in digital arts (Pratt Institute), and a B.A. in philosophy (University of Minnesota – Twin Cities). She is an assistant professor since 2020 at the department of Industrial Design at TU/e. Her active area of research is on conversational user interfaces, moral emotions like compassion or gratitude, and if technology can be incorporated to explore our socio-moral growth.
Publications
Dr. Linghan Zhang
Assistant Professor in Human-Technology Interaction at Eindhoven University of Tehnology
With an educational background in computer science and research experiences in mobile and wearable sensing/computing, she leverages sensors, sensory data processing and modeling, data fusion and AI to enable personalized and accurate human-computer interactions. Precisely, her research interests lie in mobile/wearable sensing, affective computing, and assistive technology.
Sanne Beijer MSc.
PhD Candidate Industrial Design at Eindhoven University of Tehnology
Sanne Beijer has a background in Industrial Design and obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Eindhoven University of Technology. Currently, she is a doctoral candidate in Industrial Design, focusing her project on studying the implementation gap that arises after the introduction of technologies in dementia care.
Rucha Khot MSc.
PhD Candidate Industrial Design at Eindhoven University of Tehnology
Rucha Khot is a designer and an engineer. She holds an MSc. in Integrated Product Design (specialization Medisign) from TU Delft and a B.E in Electronics Engineering from Mumbai University. Currently, she is a PhD candidate researching on interactive agents and responsible engineering practices for dementia care using Warm Technology.
Yvon Ruitenburg MSc.
PhD Candidate Industrial Design at Eindhoven University of Tehnology
Yvon Ruitenburg has a background in Industrial Design and obtained her bachelor and master’s degree at Delft University of Technology. Currently, she is a PhD Candidate at Industrial design, with her project focussing on improving the communication for people with dementia.
Alicia Valencia MSc.
PhD Candidate Industrial Design at Eindhoven University of Tehnology
Alicia Valencia is an object designer and researcher specializing in age-friendly healthcare environments. She received an MDes from Harvard Graduate School of Design and an MSc in Human-Environment Relations from Cornell University. She also holds an ScB in Psychology from Brown University and a BFA in Furniture Design from the Rhode Island School of Design. As a PhD candidate, Alicia currently contributes to the HOMEDEM Project – investigating warm technology opportunities and home experiences for people with dementia.
Teis Arets MSc.
PhD Candidate Industrial Design at Eindhoven University of Tehnology
Teis Arets has a background in Industrial Design and obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Eindhoven University of Technology. Currently, he is a doctoral candidate at the Human-Technology Interaction (HTI) group of Eindhoven University of Technology. He joined the QoLEAD project and investigates how AI can enrich social contacts for a better quality of life for people living with dementia.
Fan Wang MSc.
PhD Candidate Industrial Design at Eindhoven University of Tehnology
Fan Wang majored in industrial design. Her expertise lies in collecting and analyzing qualitative data. She has rich experience in user research, especially related to healthcare. Fan is a doctoral candidate in Industrial Design, focusing her project on Interrogating Deception in the Design of Social Robots for People with Dementia.
Associated researchers and designers
Prof. Dr. Ir. Berry Eggen
Full Professor of Design for User Experience in Ambient Intelligent Systems at Eindhoven University of Tehnology
Dr. Ir. Emilia Barakova
Assistant Professor of Socially Intelligent Systems at Eindhoven University of Tehnology
Prof. Dr. Helianthe Kort
Full Professor Built Environment, Building Performance at Eindhoven University of Tehnology
Prof. Dr. Ir. Masi Mohammadi
Full Professor Built Environment, Smart Architectural Technologies at Eindhoven University of Tehnology
Ir. Myrte Thoolen
PhD student Industrial Design, Systemic Change at Eindhoven University of Tehnology
Dr. Yuan Lu
Associate Professor of Design for Healthy and Active Ageing at Eindhoven University of Tehnology
Dr. Jun Hu MEng, EngD.
Associate Professor of Social Computing, Systemic Change and EAISI Health at Eindhoven University of Tehnology
Dr. Francesca Toso
Assistant Professor in Stakeholder engagement and Co-Design at the Faculty of Engineering Technology at the University of Twente