Mathematics education in secondary schools is often experienced as abstract and disconnected from reality, leading to declining motivation among students. To address this, both the Dutch Ministry of Education and the SLO are working to integrate spatial skills more explicitly into the curriculum. Simultaneously, there is growing interest in inquiry- and design-based learning, which aligns well with the spatial, tangible changes that are coming.

This research investigates the question: How can 12 to 15 year old havo/vwo students develop their spatial skills during math classes through a tangible object? Sub-questions explore the definition of spatial skills and the structure of a typical math lesson.

The process was divided into a research cycle and a design cycle. The research cycle involved literature review, interviews, and observations, and used context mapping to identify similarities and differences between student needs and school systems. The design cycle followed a research through design approach, with iterative prototyping and user testing.

The literature review revealed that spatial skills are not just about mental rotation or perspective-taking, but depend on the object, its surroundings, and how we engage with it; mentally, physically, or through movement in the environment. The context mapping analysis shows that schools prioritize structure, efficiency, and test preparation, while students expressed a desire for interactive and collaborative experiences. This led to a design space that balances both needs: structured lessons that still allow for active exploration.

The resulting concept is a magnetic cube toolkit designed to enhance spatial reasoning through geometry tasks that align with the curriculum. Instead of adding extra work, the tool replaces optional exercises with open-ended, spatial challenges. Students select an assignment card and build with modular cubes, progressing from 2D to 3D thinking and from closed to open questions.

User testing showed that the haptic experience of the magnetic cube increased engagement. However, improvements were needed in the clarity and length of task descriptions, since the connection between the questions and the cube was not always clear. The physical size and production cost of the prototype were also mentioned as limitations, making large scale classroom implementation unrealistic in its current form.

As a recommendation, a more affordable, compact version was developed, even if this means losing the tactile quality of the magnets. Future steps include refining the design for production and conducting full-classroom trials to test feasibility and educational impact.

This thesis investigates how aircraft manufacturers, particularly Airbus, can play a more strategic role in improving aircraft turnaround operations—a critical, delay-prone segment of flight logistics. Utilizing a literature review, expert interviews, and co-design validation, the research identifies four systemic frictions—sequencing bottlenecks, communication breakdowns, interface mismatches, and accountability voids—as root causes of inefficiency. Rather than optimizing individual tasks, the project reframes turnaround as a socio-technical system requiring systemic intervention. A speculative design approach is used to propose new OEM roles through three conceptual archetypes, leading to the development of the “Turnaround Futures Framework,” which maps the evolution from a defined-centralized system to a dynamic-distributed one. The final recommendation outlines six strategic levers Airbus can activate to reposition itself—not as a controller of ground operations, but as an enabler of system-wide alignment through design, interoperability, and open readiness standards.

While hospitals play a central role in healing, it is contradictory that healthcare activities contribute to climate change, ultimately creating a less healthy world. To achieve the goals of reducing waste and climate impact established to address this issue, action must be taken. Medication is responsible for a large share of Erasmus MC's emissions. However, research into the environmental impact of medication is still in its early stages. In particular, the impact of medication packaging remains largely unexplored and must first be mapped. For this purpose a Material Flow Analysis (MFA) was executed at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Erasmus MC to assess its current environmental impact and to identify environmental hotspots (for potential reductions).
 
Patient care in the ICU is highly specialised and personalised, and medication plays a critical role in this. Medication packaging is composed of several components. The components included in this MFA study are primary packaging, secondary packaging, leaflets and accessories. All components come in many different shapes.
 
For all medications prescribed more than 250 times in 2023 within the ICU, the components of the packaging were assessed by weight. The three major hotspots in terms of material are plastic, glass and paper. A significant finding in terms of packaging was the share of dialysis bag boxes. These boxes alone account for 20% of the waste in the ICU.
 
In the second part of this study a redesign of the dialysis bag boxes was proposed. To redesign the dialysis bag boxes, their packaging was first examined and the surrounding system was mapped. The redesign process utilised the Circular R-strategies from Metabolic’s Value Hill to reduce waste and the environmental impact of the packaging. During the ideation phase, two strategies were prioritised: reducing the paper content of the packaging and introducing reusable packaging. A cost analysis revealed that reusable packaging is both more sustainable and more cost-effective over time compared to single-use paper boxes. Existing reusable systems in healthcare and other industries, such as the fruit and vegetable sector, were also explored for inspiration.
 
From the ideation, four concepts were developed, and a final concept was selected: a dolly system combined with a box with a lid. This box can be sealed and is stackable and nestable, which is essential for transport and storage. Additionally, the reusable box is more user-friendly, saving nurses time and allowing them to focus more on critical patient care. By implementing this concept, 20% of the waste generated in the ICU can be eliminated.
 
This research primarily aims to highlight the challenges within the complex healthcare system and serves as an eye-opener for the industry to reconsider its strict regulations and environmentally harmful practices.