Imagine going to a bar to meet your friends. When you arrive you try to spot them in a room filled with people, but your view is blurred which disables you from recognizing your friends. How would this make you feel? People that are blind or have low vision (PBLV) are all around us and can be found in any context of life. Just like sighted people, they feel the need to attend to social situations. However, socially navigating themselves, meaning finding and navigating toward familiar people around them, can be more challenging for them due to missing sight.

Literature describes that having a visual impairment can greatly impact your social life (Brunes et al., 2019; Desrosiers et al., 2009; Grow et al., 2015; OehlerGiarratana & Fitzgerald, 1980). This was confirmed by PBLV, during interviews that were executed in advance of the project. There seems to be a gap in exploring how design could help PBLV with the challenges they experience in their social life. With a participatory approach, this project attempts to contribute to filling this gap. During the project, the goal was to ‘develop a supporting device that makes PBLV feel more at ease in social situations’.

Interviews and shadowing sessions with PBLV, and a literature study resulted in the definition of eight areas where PBLV experience challenges in their social life. Together with studying the technological developments in the field of social life of PBLV, resulted in composing the design goal to: ‘Design a tool that allows PBLV to improve personal social navigation. Helping them to find and identify familiar people around them in social settings.’

With this design goal and the conducted research in mind, the conceptualization phase followed. During this phase several concepts were generated, (rapid) prototypes were created, and additional tests and studies were executed. Knowledge gathered from this phase resulted in the design of the final concept called ‘Sofi’.

‘Sofi’, the social finder, is an application and add-on for the Apple Watch which supports PBLV in their social navigation. It does so via communicating the identity, and location of familiar others nearby through vibrations. In addition, it helps PBLV to navigate towards these familiar others when desired.

Based on prototyping and testing elements of the final concept, and gathering feedback from PBLV, ‘Sofi’ seems to be a promising concept that could have potential for further development. The findings of this project, in particular, the research on social challenge areas for PBLV, and the design exploration can contribute to the knowledge of using design to help PBLV tackle the challenges they experience in their social life.

PROBLEM
Foundation Models are emerging as a new paradigm in AI research &
commercialisation. While this opens up possibilities for radically innovative
solutions and significant value creation, startups are challenged with finding
unique & differentiated ways to leverage the technology, while simultaneously
mitigating potentially negative consequences.
Despite the rising prevalence of machine learning (ML) in products, designers
face challenges in creating solutions that make the best use of the new
possibilities. Designers building AI products are rarely involved in problem
setting & value finding, primarily solving human-AI interaction problems.
Additionally, common human-centered, customer feedback based innovation
approaches hinder radical innovation.
Lastly, AI Ethics and responsible innovation continues to be an afterthought.
Product designers are seldom involved in mitigating the potentially negative
consequences of such products.

APPROACH
This thesis combines literature study with a "research through design"
approach to explore ways to address these problems. Working in collaboration
with a startup trying to leverage Large Language Models (LLMs) in their
products,I use empirical research to engage in the process of finding radically
innovative opportunities for using LLMs to create value for customers.
I study risk assessment practices to explore how designers can anticipate
risks in the discovery phase of product design. I then design & test tools that
can support other designers in the future.

OUTCOMES
This thesis makes multiple contributions to further the research on
technological & responsible innovation. It documents my process for finding &
analysing user insights to support the discovery of potentially radical
innovations. Additionally, I explore the process of finding value propositions
that leverage Foundation Models, and their potential risks, early in the design
process. The thesis also records how I design a process for discovering and
anticipating potential risks of harm, and how I developed a pair of canvases
and card decks to support future designers.
The thesis supports product designers in repeating these processes through
the pair of canvases and card decks. These help them to collaborate with
engineers, and contribute to the innovation & risk mitigation processes more
effectively. The discussions focus on observations & recommendations that
can further aid them.
To help designers innovate responsibly, this thesis brings the discovery of
opportunities and risks of using Foundation Models into the same
conversation. The designed deliverables and processes showcase how both
aspects of technology innovation can be tackled in similar ways.
Through all of the above, this thesis showcases the relevance of designerly
ways of thinking and doing to the fields of radical innovation, risk
management, and Foundation Model based product development.

In this report, a proposal for a sustainable last mile is given. Inner city logistics brings many problems with it regarding livability in the city; polluting vans standing in the way on the road or the sidewalk and driving too fast because of high demands of the consumer and competitive nature of carriers. Unsustainable practices are being dealt with in regulations (in the Netherlands) such as the Zero Emission Stadslogistiek. The aim of the Zero Emission Urban Logistics is to reduce emissions of CO2, NOx and particulate matter due to urban traffic to 0%. In addition, parties want to reduce noise pollution.
More sustainable transport like cargo bikes or light electric vehicles could play a role in solving these problems on the relatively short term. However, because they typically have smaller capacity and have smaller ranges than the vans that are currently used they are not the default solution for consignment in the city; distribution centres nowadays typically lie too far away from the end consignee to effectively employ these type of vehicles.
The fact that distribution centres lie so far away from the city stems from more latent problem of the last mile; its inaccessible and un-communal nature.
In this project I propose 7 ‘design activities’ in response of the aforementioned problems: cooperation, incentivisation, standardisation, decentralisation, integration (in the city), automation and consolidation. Based on these design activities I proposed three types of urban consolidation centres that facilitate smaller types of transport while at the same time considering the aforementioned design activities.

Just a couple of years ago the delineation between the public and the private sector was clear. However, with the introduction and proliferation of shared mobility providers, the boundary is becoming fuzzy, especially since these newcomers all use their own specific way of checking in and out. Because they are not incorporated into a single digital ecosystem, the journey from door to door is becoming less seamless the more mobility providers are added to the market. The goal of this thesis is to fully understand what exactly constitutes seamless mobility and how it can be incorporated into the Dutch mobility sector. Consolidating research presented in this thesis in combination with previous research, a full traveller journey map is constructed in which anti- seamless behaviour is identified. Checking in to both a train station gate and a shared modality are the least seamless aspects of the journey. Therefore a new novel seamless interaction idea is presented. The proposed interaction is essentially the inverse of the current situation revolving around the idea of a wireless digital handshake. Wherein the old scenario the traveller must physically present a modality-specific identifier to a permanently closed barrier i.e. gate or moped, a traveller now carries a small modality non-specific token which can be detected by a gate at the train station or by a parked shared modality if it is in close proximity. Check-in gates at the train station are now permanently open and subsequently will only close when a valid token is not detected i.e. the digital handshake cannot be made. The same goes for checking in on a shared modality. Shared modalities are permanently unlocked and turned on and will cut the power, apply the brakes, or sounds an alarm when a valid token is not detected i.e. the digital handshake cannot be made. The combination of the wireless technologies PKES and UWB are selected. The introduction of the aforementioned seamless mobility scenario is dependent on the integration of public transportation and shared mobility services. Based on interviews with a municipality, a shared mobility provider, desk research, and leveraging the future introduction of Account Based Ticketing, nine strategic interventions are proposed. Now made possible by the strategic blueprint, research is done on how future travellers will react to the reimagined seamless mobility scenario. This is done through a series of interaction prototyping tests. Insights are translated in a redesigned travel token, a seamless train station gate, and a seamless scooter. A demonstrator prototype is built for attendees at the thesis defence to experience the reimagined seamless travel scenario.

This MSc. Thesis explores the adoption process of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems in local governmental agencies. The research uses a Design Science Research approach to explore this adoption process in the innovation adoption literature. The outcomes of this literature analysis are used to create a meaningful arrangement of determinants in a single framework. The use of this framework is demonstrated and tested through expert interviews. The results of this evaluation are used to iterate on a final framework that shows the adoption process of AI-systems in local governmental agencies.

The role that smart technologies play and the data they generate is becoming central in cities; cities are adopting technologies as a new way of governance and making policies based on data. Increasingly, governments and companies implement data-driven strategies, and the number of sensors in the public space is increasing. This translates into abysmal amounts of data about people, their behavior and habits. While the use of smart technologies in cities and specifically in Amsterdam has many potential benefits—from improving local economy and transportation to quality of life and e-governance—there is a growing concern about the ethical risks. Martinez-Balleste et al. (2013) identify that their use in cities jeopardize citizens’ privacy. Moreover, one of the main problems of smart technologies in the public realm is that they are often placed without users’ consent and without providing any notice of their presence. At the same time, the attitude of smart city residents towards this new paradigm — along with the ethical, social and privacy implications that derive from it — is one of indifference. The misalignment between smart city residents attitudes and privacy behaviour is what motivates this project. This project aims to engage smart city residents with smart technologies in order to create awareness, better understanding of the privacy implications and build a democratic process for smart cities. The design solution focuses on empowering smart city users by making smart technologies, its privacy implications and data insights legible for users. By building this knowledge and making privacy implications more visible, users will be able to notice smart technologies in the public realm and spread awareness. Moreover, they will be better equipped to make inform decisions about smart city projects and co-shape the city they envision.

The construction industry is undergoing a significant change driven by the emergence of new technologies. Digitalization is transforming the sector with the Internet of Things (IoT) being one of its core enablers. As a leading multinational organization that provides cutting-edge tools, technologies, software and services for the global construction sector, Hilti is responding to this change by shifting from a product-oriented focus to become a more solution-oriented company. One essential factor of this transition is the adoption of the IoT technology to provide new solutions to address the customers’ needs in the digital future. Thus, Hilti needs to identify and seize opportunities in the field of IoT. The purpose of this graduation thesis is to enable Hilti to identify new ideas in the area of IoT and protect them with intellectual property rights to enable long-term differentiation. A good overview of the IoT patent landscape will provide clarity to spot new business opportunities systematically. The project aims at developing an innovation process that captures ideas from within the company. A qualitative user research was conducted uncovering several pain points in the current process. The loss of ideas and the lack of quality of ideas were found to be the biggest challenges that are hindering innovation from happening. The findings were contrasted with literature, which pointed out the importance of the development of an abstract idea to become more concrete, in order to derive value from or protect it.
In an iterative process, a solution was developed that addresses the identified pain points. The outcome is a combination of a sequential and iterative innovation process structured into four phases, including ideation, collection, assessment and protection of ideas. The basic concept of the process is the validation of assumptions, for which a tool was developed that facilitates this and acts as the main touchpoint throughout the process. The process is visualized in a process blueprint providing detailed information about the different components and interactions. An implementation plan was developed, giving suggestions for the next steps to be taken to operationalize the process.
The project provides a feasible solution for Hilti to identify and protect new ideas in the area of IoT. For the implementation, it is recommended to give much attention to the guidance and training throughout the process to ensure its correct use.

The thesis addresses the implementation challenges of Machine Learning (ML) for merchandisers in the scenario of digitalization of retailing, and proposes a product-service design as the solution. The digitalization of retailing is defined as an on-going process to integrate Internet-connected digital technologies into interfaces between retailers and consumers. The researcher collaborates with Bloomreach, who provides an ML-powered merchandising tool called Bloomreach Search & Merchandising (brSM), and uses the context as an example of digitalization of retailing with ML. brSM helps merchandisers to improve the search and category experiences by optimizing the ranking of products, improving search results and curating recommendations on e-commerce platforms. The project presents a comprehensive analysis of the product, service, and merchandiser. In the product analysis, it is suggested that brSM doesn’t facilitate the interaction between the merchandisers and algorithms. Due to the knowledge gap, merchandisers have difficulties to align the expectation of the product at the beginning. Furthermore, the product doesn’t provide proactive feedback that improves the supervision of the user. In the service analysis, the misalignment of the internal feature communication leads to the confusing implementation service for the merchandisers. Specifically, the internal workflow and communication during the new feature introduction are confusing internally and externally. In the merchandiser analysis, it identifies two personas of merchandisers during the implementation of ML due to different business contexts and product characteristics. It thus is suggested to provide customized implementation supports according to their different needs.To address these challenges, the design solution aims to improve the (new) feature communication by adopting a use-case oriented approach for merchandisers and internal stakeholders with supportive tools. Based on the implementation framework of service design, the solution will be addressed on three levels, experience, service and strategy. At the experience level, brXtrategy family, supportive tools that provide merchandising inspirations, is introduced. It provides customized implementation information according to merchandisers’ business context. Also, it simplifies the product information by the adopting use-case oriented approach, which provides example-based explanations. Moreover, it improves the interaction between the merchandisers and algorithms by an interactive education tool and proactive notification of algorithmic performance. The front-stage and back-stage services are illustrated by the user journey map and service blueprint, which specify methods to improve the intra-company collaboration and the customer services in the critical moments like new feature introduction, onboard, and re-training. On the strategy front, a roadmap and a transitional workflow are introduced to facilitate the product strategy and the solution implementation. The workflow, called Use-case oriented development workflow, bridges the gaps of product/merchandiser understandings between the field teams and the R&D teams during feature developments. With comprehensive research and three aspects of the design solution, the thesis contributes to the company and academic domain. It contributes to a better understanding of merchandisers in the process of digitalization of retailing. Also, the solution improves brSM’s services and facilitates the implementation of ML. Last but not least, it demonstrates a design approach that designers can perform that improves ML-powered products.

Ford democratised mobility in the early 1900s by providing the freedom to move for a broad audience. We are on the verge of a mobility revolution that could once again change the way we spend our time, allocate urban areas and shape communities. Cities evolved around the car and people started to realize this might not be the cities they want to live in. A European wide trend could be recognized of cities that are aiming to decrease the number of cars in cities to reclaim streets for people. The proposal aims to enable Ford to ‘democratise streets’ by transitioning to off-street parking to improve liveability. The project explored opportunities in the servitization of Ford’s future business around autonomous drive, connectivity and electrification. The proposal delivers a product service around the parking ecosystem and a dialogue tool to collaboratively design interventions.

This master thesis contains the development of a product solution for wheelchair users. Based on behavioral science theories, persuasive technology principles and an analysis of the context and problems of wheelchair users, a strategy and product have been developed to help wheelchair user improve their wheelchair behavior.

Graduation project focused on designing a data enabled product using internet of things to support cooking enthusiasts in their daily cooking practices for ATAG. By using practice theory bij Kuijer the graduate student researched the kitchen context and did user interviews to uncover design opportunities for data enabled products in the kitchen context. This was used to develop a concept named Sjef. Sjef is an app that works with sensors the user puts on their pans. Through recipes and measurements of the sensor the user is assisted with cooking. The concept was tested with the target group to discover insight into future developments for a connected product such as Sjef.

It is known that the distinctive relationship of the Millennial generation with technology has brought two icons of the current lifestyle, mobile phones and online social networks, which it is often considered as a badge of generational identity. The accelerated rise of smart devices has enabled modern society to reach amazing levels of productivity in regular lives. On the other hand, technology has contributed to increase the "absent presence effect", which is described as an individual is physically present but is absorbed by a technologically mediated world of elsewhere. This phenomenon has affected the quality of interpersonal relationships and the ability of individuals to accurately read verbal and non-verbal codes. In a higher multicultural context, as a consequence of the process of globalization these verbal and non-verbal communication coding systems are learned and passed on as part of the cultural experience, therefore, a cultural-specific knowledge (knowledge of intracultural communication) is required regarding the different verbal and non-verbal communication codes from a particular culture in order to understand and respond accurately to different the social interactions presented during the socialization process among different cultures.

This research proposes wearable technology as the preferred tool of communication for the human being, with the potential of improving human intercultural adaptation. Although wearable technology has the potential to assist all the dimensions of intercultural adjustment (verbal and non- verbal communication elements) however, for the purpose of this study, it has been decided to focus on one of these dimensions, direct communication (language barrier). Language is considered as the most relevant mediator that allows the human being to relate and understand each other. Hence, its importance as an initial approach to wearable technology assistance in intercultural adaptation.

The design proposal exposed in the present document aims to show the advantages that wearable technology can offer through the implementation of sensory augmentation principles, to improve and encourage an individual in his language learning process. In addition to the integration of augmented reality systems as a provider of a motivating, entertaining, and engaging learning environment. Thus, allowing the individual to be involved in a rich real-time support environment as he performs his daily activities (learning through direct experience).

In today’s volatile and disruptive business landscape, organizations experience intensified competition and an increased need to be more adaptive and dynamic in responding to change. In order to become more resilient, organizations need to shift from an efficiency focus to a learning focus. If everyone in an organization or ecosystem learns faster from experiences, the collective performance and innovative capabilities will increase more rapidly. The necessity to learn and personally develop continuously is also recognized by individuals to cope with changing roles and to ensure sustainable employability. Learning Agility (the ability to develop new effective behavior quickly and flexibly based on new experiences) can play an important role in increasing people’s change readiness and innovative behavior. It accelerates learning and gives direction to the development of an individual, by providing insight in his or her learning potential. Fundamental for developing learning agile behavior is Self-Awareness: if you know your strengths and weaknesses, you know where to begin in your development. This is where ReflAction comes in. ReflAction is an application that allows employees to add scores to the activities they engage in that actually contribute to achieving their personal learning goals. A goal is achieved when a self-defined number of positive scores is met, for which also the needed time is kept. Through this simple input, employees can see where they learn from, what they could to do to optimalize their learning and how they progress in their learning goals over time. The organization receives valuable data on e.g. people’s learning preferences, speed and taken approaches to learn a goal, which could enable providing employees with a more personalized learning experience.
By triggering reflection moments to evaluate the learning value of what you do during a day and getting provided insight on where you learn from and how this relates to your progression and performance, people could increase their Self-Awareness and accelerate learning. A Learning Agility profile is established over time through the variety of activities you learn from and the speed in achieving goals. Consequently, by promoting tips, suggestions and micro learnings based on the user’s input data, the organization can not only support people with their learning goals, but moreover evoke explorative behavior and take people out of their comfort zone, in order to experience (and learn) more. Besides a step towards a better intergration of working and learning, the input data indicating learning (agile) behavior could support strategic decision making concerning human capital and retention as well.

This graduation project aims to design a data driven service system for Swapfiets. The designed system allows users to locate their bicycle if they have trouble finding it. Other data driven services using the information are explored. The device is designed to be integrated into a bicycle light and capable of sustaining itself for its energy needs.

This thesis explores how Internet of Things (IoT) can support Circular Economy in its goal of decoupling economic development from finite resources consumption. This is made specifically in the context of products as services, using as the case of study the Pay-per-Use washing-machine service by startup company HOMIE. The machine is connected to HOMIE’s database through a tracker that sends the data of users’ consumption so that they are charged accordingly.

However, product-as-services rely on the service provider as the main actor for product circulation. The product use per use, as an intensive resource consumption part of the lifecycle, and its relationship with users’ decisions is not therein contemplated. So, for this project, design strategies for sustainable behavior are included in the development of this product service system (PSS) as a complementary concept to Circular Economy.

This study found out that smart products have a special relation with sustainable behavior strategies, since connectivity enables in great extent the design of eco-interactions, which can be used to reduce the environmental impact during the use phase. Additionally, IoT is considered itself a source of value creation, which can be used in development of service features that, by means of connectivity, solve issues that were not tackled before. Thus, more attractive value propositions can be created.

The findings mentioned above were translated in a design for the case of study. For it, a human-centered and iterative approach was central for the problem finding and concept development. The former included user research with both quantitative and qualitative data analysis while the latter was divided in two stages: Idea generation and concept selection, and concept development. Concerning the concept development , the selected direction was detailed, prototyped and tested with multiple users that matched the desired customer profile. The insights obtained from the user testing led to a final design iteration.

The final improved design is a Smart PSSs eco-system integrated by 3 devices: the webpage, the washing machine interface and an app. All together aim to improve the experience of use of HOMIE’s Pay-per-Use service while fostering more sustainable practices and motivating adoption. Therefore, they are built with a strong sustainable behavior design rationale. The outcome of this thesis shows a clear example of how connectivity can be used to improve a circular business model, and therefore to reduce the environmental impact of products.

This thesis explores how Internet of Things (IoT) can support Circular Economy in its goal of decoupling economic development from finite resources consumption. This is made specifically in the context of products as services, using as the case of study the Pay-per-Use washing-machine service by startup company HOMIE. The machine is connected to HOMIE’s database through a tracker that sends the data of users’ consumption so that they are charged accordingly.

However, product-as-services rely on the service provider as the main actor for product circulation. The product use per use, as an intensive resource consumption part of the lifecycle, and its relationship with users’ decisions is not therein contemplated. So, for this project, design strategies for sustainable behavior are included in the development of this product service system (PSS) as a complementary concept to Circular Economy.

This study found out that smart products have a special relation with sustainable behavior strategies, since connectivity enables in great extent the design of eco-interactions, which can be used to reduce the environmental impact during the use phase. Additionally, IoT is considered itself a source of value creation, which can be used in development of service features that, by means of connectivity, solve issues that were not tackled before. Thus, more attractive value propositions can be created.

The findings mentioned above were translated in a design for the case of study. For it, a human-centered and iterative approach was central for the problem finding and concept development. The former included user research with both quantitative and qualitative data analysis while the latter was divided in two stages: Idea generation and concept selection, and concept development. Concerning the concept development , the selected direction was detailed, prototyped and tested with multiple users that matched the desired customer profile. The insights obtained from the user testing led to a final design iteration.

The final improved design is a Smart PSSs eco-system integrated by 3 devices: the webpage, the washing machine interface and an app. All together aim to improve the experience of use of HOMIE’s Pay-per-Use service while fostering more sustainable practices and motivating adoption. Therefore, they are built with a strong sustainable behavior design rationale. The outcome of this thesis shows a clear example of how connectivity can be used to improve a circular business model, and therefore to reduce the environmental impact of products.

This thesis explores how Internet of Things (IoT) can support Circular Economy in its goal of decoupling economic development from finite resources consumption. This is made specifically in the context of products as services, using as the case of study the Pay-per-Use washing-machine service by startup company HOMIE. The machine is connected to HOMIE’s database through a tracker that sends the data of users’ consumption so that they are charged accordingly.

However, product-as-services rely on the service provider as the main actor for product circulation. The product use per use, as an intensive resource consumption part of the lifecycle, and its relationship with users’ decisions is not therein contemplated. So, for this project, design strategies for sustainable behavior are included in the development of this product service system (PSS) as a complementary concept to Circular Economy.

This study found out that smart products have a special relation with sustainable behavior strategies, since connectivity enables in great extent the design of eco-interactions, which can be used to reduce the environmental impact during the use phase. Additionally, IoT is considered itself a source of value creation, which can be used in development of service features that, by means of connectivity, solve issues that were not tackled before. Thus, more attractive value propositions can be created.

The findings mentioned above were translated in a design for the case of study. For it, a human-centered and iterative approach was central for the problem finding and concept development. The former included user research with both quantitative and qualitative data analysis while the latter was divided in two stages: Idea generation and concept selection, and concept development. Concerning the concept development , the selected direction was detailed, prototyped and tested with multiple users that matched the desired customer profile. The insights obtained from the user testing led to a final design iteration.

The final improved design is a Smart PSSs eco-system integrated by 3 devices: the webpage, the washing machine interface and an app. All together aim to improve the experience of use of HOMIE’s Pay-per-Use service while fostering more sustainable practices and motivating adoption. Therefore, they are built with a strong sustainable behavior design rationale. The outcome of this thesis shows a clear example of how connectivity can be used to improve a circular business model, and therefore to reduce the environmental impact of products.

This thesis explores how Internet of Things (IoT) can support Circular Economy in its goal of decoupling economic development from finite resources consumption. This is made specifically in the context of products as services, using as the case of study the Pay-per-Use washing-machine service by startup company HOMIE. The machine is connected to HOMIE’s database through a tracker that sends the data of users’ consumption so that they are charged accordingly.

However, product-as-services rely on the service provider as the main actor for product circulation. The product use per use, as an intensive resource consumption part of the lifecycle, and its relationship with users’ decisions is not therein contemplated. So, for this project, design strategies for sustainable behavior are included in the development of this product service system (PSS) as a complementary concept to Circular Economy.

This study found out that smart products have a special relation with sustainable behavior strategies, since connectivity enables in great extent the design of eco-interactions, which can be used to reduce the environmental impact during the use phase. Additionally, IoT is considered itself a source of value creation, which can be used in development of service features that, by means of connectivity, solve issues that were not tackled before. Thus, more attractive value propositions can be created.

The findings mentioned above were translated in a design for the case of study. For it, a human-centered and iterative approach was central for the problem finding and concept development. The former included user research with both quantitative and qualitative data analysis while the latter was divided in two stages: Idea generation and concept selection, and concept development. Concerning the concept development , the selected direction was detailed, prototyped and tested with multiple users that matched the desired customer profile. The insights obtained from the user testing led to a final design iteration.

The final improved design is a Smart PSSs eco-system integrated by 3 devices: the webpage, the washing machine interface and an app. All together aim to improve the experience of use of HOMIE’s Pay-per-Use service while fostering more sustainable practices and motivating adoption. Therefore, they are built with a strong sustainable behavior design rationale. The outcome of this thesis shows a clear example of how connectivity can be used to improve a circular business model, and therefore to reduce the environmental impact of products.

This thesis explores how Internet of Things (IoT) can support Circular Economy in its goal of decoupling economic development from finite resources consumption. This is made specifically in the context of products as services, using as the case of study the Pay-per-Use washing-machine service by startup company HOMIE. The machine is connected to HOMIE’s database through a tracker that sends the data of users’ consumption so that they are charged accordingly.

However, product-as-services rely on the service provider as the main actor for product circulation. The product use per use, as an intensive resource consumption part of the lifecycle, and its relationship with users’ decisions is not therein contemplated. So, for this project, design strategies for sustainable behavior are included in the development of this product service system (PSS) as a complementary concept to Circular Economy.

This study found out that smart products have a special relation with sustainable behavior strategies, since connectivity enables in great extent the design of eco-interactions, which can be used to reduce the environmental impact during the use phase. Additionally, IoT is considered itself a source of value creation, which can be used in development of service features that, by means of connectivity, solve issues that were not tackled before. Thus, more attractive value propositions can be created.

The findings mentioned above were translated in a design for the case of study. For it, a human-centered and iterative approach was central for the problem finding and concept development. The former included user research with both quantitative and qualitative data analysis while the latter was divided in two stages: Idea generation and concept selection, and concept development. Concerning the concept development , the selected direction was detailed, prototyped and tested with multiple users that matched the desired customer profile. The insights obtained from the user testing led to a final design iteration.

The final improved design is a Smart PSSs eco-system integrated by 3 devices: the webpage, the washing machine interface and an app. All together aim to improve the experience of use of HOMIE’s Pay-per-Use service while fostering more sustainable practices and motivating adoption. Therefore, they are built with a strong sustainable behavior design rationale. The outcome of this thesis shows a clear example of how connectivity can be used to improve a circular business model, and therefore to reduce the environmental impact of products.

This thesis explores how Internet of Things (IoT) can support Circular Economy in its goal of decoupling economic development from finite resources consumption. This is made specifically in the context of products as services, using as the case of study the Pay-per-Use washing-machine service by startup company HOMIE. The machine is connected to HOMIE’s database through a tracker that sends the data of users’ consumption so that they are charged accordingly.

However, product-as-services rely on the service provider as the main actor for product circulation. The product use per use, as an intensive resource consumption part of the lifecycle, and its relationship with users’ decisions is not therein contemplated. So, for this project, design strategies for sustainable behavior are included in the development of this product service system (PSS) as a complementary concept to Circular Economy.

This study found out that smart products have a special relation with sustainable behavior strategies, since connectivity enables in great extent the design of eco-interactions, which can be used to reduce the environmental impact during the use phase. Additionally, IoT is considered itself a source of value creation, which can be used in development of service features that, by means of connectivity, solve issues that were not tackled before. Thus, more attractive value propositions can be created.

The findings mentioned above were translated in a design for the case of study. For it, a human-centered and iterative approach was central for the problem finding and concept development. The former included user research with both quantitative and qualitative data analysis while the latter was divided in two stages: Idea generation and concept selection, and concept development. Concerning the concept development , the selected direction was detailed, prototyped and tested with multiple users that matched the desired customer profile. The insights obtained from the user testing led to a final design iteration.

The final improved design is a Smart PSSs eco-system integrated by 3 devices: the webpage, the washing machine interface and an app. All together aim to improve the experience of use of HOMIE’s Pay-per-Use service while fostering more sustainable practices and motivating adoption. Therefore, they are built with a strong sustainable behavior design rationale. The outcome of this thesis shows a clear example of how connectivity can be used to improve a circular business model, and therefore to reduce the environmental impact of products.