This project originated from Alprokon's search for new consumer products aligned with their mission of making “every space safe”. In an extensive research phase, combining consumer and professional interviews with a literature study, nine potential problem scopes related to unsafe situations in the home were identified. Further analysis of trends, market availability, and strategic fit led to flood prevention being selected as the project focus, given its growing relevance and the lack of consumer awareness and suitable products for outward-opening doors.

Climate change is driving rising sea levels and increasingly intense rainfall, making floods more frequent and severe across the Netherlands. The consequences of floods can be significant: dangerous situations, structural damage and costly repairs. With floodwater entering through doors being a primary cause of damage. While various protective flood solutions exist, such as barriers and sandbags, most are bulky, heavy, expensive and time-consuming to set up. Critically, none of the currently available solutions are suitable for outward-opening doors, which are standard for most Dutch back doors. This represents a clear gap in the market. To fill this gap Floud is created. 

Through iterative ideation, testing and material research, Floud was developed as a flood protection concept in two versions: the Floud Add-on and the Floud Draft Strip. Both are compact additions to existing outward-opening doors, built around a water-activated expanding material that automatically seals all gaps around the door when floodwater rises, requiring no setup and protecting the home even when no one is there.

The Floud Add-on is easy to install and compatible with almost any door type but more prone to wear and tear over time. The Floud Draft Strip integrates flood protection into a traditional draft strip, delivering a faster, longer lasting and more reliable seal at a higher installation effort and cost. Both concepts present a strong business case for Alprokon, and first contact with potential production partners has been made, demonstrating clear potential to develop Floud further and bring it to market. ... Read more

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. ... Read more

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. ... Read more

The Mekong Delta is a densely populated and economically vital region in Vietnam. However, it faces severe coastal challenges threatening the livelihoods of the 20 million people living in the area. Mangrove deforestation, land subsidence, and sea level rise cause erosion and coastal retreat. To tackle these challenges, the Living Lab project combines long-term research, stakeholder engagement, and nature-based solutions to promote sustainable coastal management. However, research outcomes often remain fragmented and informing relevant stakeholders often proves difficult. This results in limited follow-up action taken.

This report introduces the Digital Living Lab, an online environment that makes complex research understandable and actionable for policymakers. It provides a theoretical background and translates technical information into clear insights that support decision-makers in choosing and implementing effective interventions. The platform follows a location-based storyline: content is organized per site and links drivers, processes, stakeholders, and interventions, emphasizing site-specific solutions and helping decision-makers weigh intervention options and long-term effects. The platform also features interactive maps displaying mangrove coverage over time, playing well into the visual and evidence-based orientation of decision-makers.... ... Read more

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. ... Read more