Where I started …
During my bachelor’s, I focused on getting acquainted with Adobe programs and making prototypes on different fidelity levels. Through this process, I developed trust in my senses on how something should look while designing it.
B1.1, very first design of a poster using Adobe Illustrator and InDesign. 
B1.2 Project 1, low-fidelity design of a pulsating bracelet using a balloon tied to a tube to blow air in it. 
B1.2 Project 1, somewhat higher fidelity bracelets using wood. 
Cardboard Modeling, practicing with making 3D shapes. 
Cardboard Modeling, doing shape explorations for a coffee machine design. 
Aesthetics of Interaction, exploring intuitive ways of interacting with an alarm clock. Here, you slam the bands around the tube to turn the alarm off. 
B3.1 internship event, using a corporate style for designing communication material. 
B3.1 internship event, using a corporate style for designing event material. 
B3.1 internship event, using a corporate style for designing event material.
… how I continued …
During my master’s I worked more by myself, and I realized I am more critical of the interactive aesthetics of a prototype than the way it looks. In the M1.1 project, designing the social robot Bulb, I liked thinking along about the exterior but my primary interest was in designing its behaviour. By working in a group, overlap in interests needed to be found which led to an extensive brainstorming phase to explore design directions.
When choosing CDR, my creative process changed along with the research mindset. This can clearly be seen when comparing an M1.1 brainstorm with low-fidelity prototyping and an M1.2 brainstorm in which I looked at existing work and took inspiration from there.
Additional to ID projects, I did a project course at Innovation Space. It was enlightening to be the only designer in a team and therefore set in charge of visuals. By trusting my design senses, I translated the group’s vision of a concept idea to a visual communicating the concept. I will not be the best at designing materials but it feels reassuring that non-designers still trust me in this skill.
M1.1, low-fidelity prototyping to determine the theme direction of the social robot. 
M1.1, using the low-fidelity prototypes in interaction to decide upon the design direction of for example making an object vs. something environmental. 
M1.2 brainstorming through looking at existing work. 
Innovation Space course, the poster of our final concept idea of using light in a fun way on holiday parks.
… and where I’m headed.
In my last projects, M2.1 and M2.2, I found my creative process to become increasingly research-based. Instead of idea brainstorming, I find inspiration from previous research work. Using this method I am, in my own way, refining a research design based on the knowledge that is out there. Of course, while building a research prototype I do still employ my intuition to decide the aesthetics but where possible I find it good practice to support a decision with literature.
To support me in my research design practice I want to continue to develop my visual communication skills and combining my developed intuition on good design with research-based creativity.
M2.1 poster about the project for the opening of the Ai, Media and Democracy ELSA lab (https://www.aim4dem.nl/). I was asked as one of the projects to represent the research group. 
M2.2 developing a VR environment using intuition on what looks good and it being supported by previous research findings.
Simone Ooms 