Identity
I am an enthusiastic designer with a passion for addressing societal challenges and committed to contribute to a fair and inclusive society by designing with and for marginalized groups. As a designer, my interest in tackling wicked problems has been shaped by a strong sense of justice and engagement in community service projects as a citizen.
My designs draw inspiration from my outlook on the world and (lived) experiences of other people. My emphatic and calm nature contributes to a safe and low-key environment where people feel comfortable having open conversations. For example, in my graduation project, I leveraged these competencies to discover the context, needs and pains of EU migrant workers, despite their potential fear of retaliation from employment agencies when discussing issues openly. With an entrepreneurial mindset and interest for creating products and services, demonstrated through founding a local Repair Café and participating in a TU/e spinoff, I translate user insights into business opportunities.
I proactively engage multi-stakeholders to collaboratively bring innovative design solutions to life. With an open as well as a critical attitude, I explore different perspectives and ideas, which sparks innovative concepts aimed at addressing real problems and creating meaningful impacts. During my internship and graduation project at the Red Cross, I utilized participatory design practices to actively gather diverse perspectives from relevant stakeholders and critically evaluated their feedback and suggestions. As a result, I managed interests and expectations of potential users, district coordinators and colleagues at the headquarters.
“I was impressed by her calm and professional communication and her proactive approach in navigating our complex organization. She can effectively manage the design process, select relevant tools and deliver compelling presentations to convince her audience.”
Company coach at the Red Cross
“Lin can present very clearly and manages to engage colleagues with her insights and process.”
Manager at the Red Cross
“Lin is thorough and knowledgeable. Her UX design skills are very good.”
Manager at OSAGE
Socially engaged
Open and Critical
Creative
Analytical
Entrepreneur
Stakeholder engagement
Vision
As a designer, I aim to empower vulnerable populations in our society through (digital) products and services. The rapid adoption of technology in society has left an estimated 2.5 million Dutch citizens, such as older adults, people with a lower socio-economic status and people with limited digital skills, unable to keep pace (Netherlands Court of Audit, 2016). This led to unequal access to essential information and services. For example, 1 out of 6 Dutch adults struggle to manage their banking affairs unaided (De Nederlandsche Bank, 2023). Designers play a crucial role in fostering a more inclusive and fair society by bridging the digital divide and designing products and services that benefit all members of society.
Designers should aim to create simple and intuitive solutions that ensure accessibility and usability for a diverse audience. However, designers can rush too fast into innovation mode by focusing solely on developing new technologies or solutions, without thoroughly understanding the underlying user needs. This approach can lead to missed opportunities and less effective designs, as seen with innovations like 3D television, which aimed to revolutionize home entertainment but struggled to meet desirability criteria.
Instead, designers should invest more time in understanding the problem in-depth within its context, considering different perspectives and avoiding predetermined focus on technology. Therefore, my design projects typically begin with an extensive context exploration, emphasizing an empathic approach. For instance, my graduation project commenced with a field study with EU migrant workers to define the problem space. Additionally, integrating participatory design practices into the design process can enhance user experiences and boost business potential by aligning designs with stakeholders’ expectations. In projects like social design project with the PSV Foundation and graduation project at the Red Cross, I collaborated with potential users and stakeholders through co-analysis and co-creation, rather than designing solely for them.
Get in touch
Ready to design for social impact? Reach out to me!
The Netherlands