dr. J. van Dijk (Jelle)

I am a design-researcher with a background in cognitive science and a PhD in industrial design. I am interested in theories of embodiment and how they may change our vision on the design of interactive systems that are both physical and digital at the same time.

With a small team of Phd students and graduation students we design and research empowering technologies for neurodiverse users, for example persons on the autism spectrum. We are also developing a co-design methodology and toolkit called Design your Life with which young autistic adults create their own solutions.

I am active in research communities of tangible and embodied interaction, participatory design, and research-through-design.

I am also a member of the ethical committee of the faculty of Engineering Technology.

Students with interest in Embodied Interaction, Human-Centered Design, Participatory Design/ Co-Design, or Neurodiversity, come see me if you want to do a project. You may be studying industrial design, creative technology, Y-tech or related. A philosophical/theoretical project on relations between embodiment and technology is also possible. You may also be studying psychology and interested in investigating the use of assistive technologies for special needs groups, or you may want to do a design ethnography coming from anthropology or sociology. If you have rapid prototyping skills (Arduino; 3d modeling and printing, programming skills) and you want to use these to design meaningful products supporting people, do not hesitate to contact me, for example via:

Jelle.vandijk@utwente.nl.

Outside of university I have warm contacts with a number of health care institutions especially organizations involved in care at home, facilitated living, therapy, training, coaching and ambulant support. I am always interested in increasing our network of stakeholders and share and build knowledge together.

Expertise

• Computer Science

  • Design
  • Participatory Design
  • User

• Psychology

  • Self-Compassion
  • Research
  • Case Study
  • Cognition
  • Tools

Organisations

I am a design-researcher with a background in cognitive science and a PhD in industrial design. I am interested in theories of embodiment and how they may change our vision on the design of interactive systems that are both physical and digital at the same  time.

With a team of Phd students and graduation students I design and research empowering technologies for neurodiverse users (for example concerning persons on the autism spectrum)

We are also developing th Design your Life toolkit and co-design methodology which enables young autistic adults to create their own personalized solutions.

I am active in research communities of tangible and embodied interaction, participatory design, and research-through-design.

I am also member of the ethical committee of the faculty of Engineering Technology.

Students with interest in Embodied Interaction, Human-Centered Design, Participatory Design, Co-Design, or Neurodiversity (e.g. Autism) come see me if you want to do a project. You may be studying industrial design, creative technology, I-tech. A philosophical/theoretical project on embodiment and technology is also possible. If you are studying psychology and wish to investigate assistive technologies or if you want to do a design ethnography coming from anthropology or sociology, let me know. And if you have rapid prototyping skills (Arduino; 3d modeling and printing, programming skills) and you want to use these to design meaningful products supporting people in everyday life, do not hesitate to contact me, for example via:

Jelle.vandijk@utwente.nl.

Outside of university I have warm contacts with a number of health care institutions especially organizations involved in care at home, facilitated living, therapy, training, coaching and ambulant support. I am always interested in increasing our network of stakeholders and share and build knowledge together. Please send me an email if you are interested.

Publications

Research profiles

Courses I coordinate:

* Embodied Interaction (master, open to ID, I-tech, and philosophy (but contact me first))
* Designing for Specific Users (bachelor, ID)
* Honours Master Program, Design track.
* Creative Intelligence (master, part of the Transdisciplinary Master Insert Shaping responsible futures)

Affiliated study programs

Courses academic year 2025/2026

Courses in the current academic year are added at the moment they are finalised in the Osiris system. Therefore it is possible that the list is not yet complete for the whole academic year.

Courses academic year 2024/2025

Visit me on my personal website jellevandijk.org

More on the Design your Life project can be found on the DYL Website

Address

University of Twente

Horst Complex (building no. 20), room W239
De Horst 2
7522 LW Enschede
Netherlands

Navigate to location

Organisations