By using and further expanding on existing user study methods involving value based design methods, ecosystem analysis, and context mapping, you will co-create the concept development for the ID-Buddy in societal communities with families and a consortium of experts, public and private organizations. The concept development for the platform should bring out and connect diverse values from various stakeholders within the ecosystem of the neighbourhood resulting in increased health literacy, mutual care and healthy lifestyle. Your responsibilities will include a literature review of value based design, iterative development and validation of your own value based design method for a complex multi-stakeholder context involving vulnerable target groups, (collaborative) concept development, design and prototyping activities for the platform development, and writing academic journal articles on the process and results of your work. You will closely collaborate with our design partners Muzus (user-advocate), &Ranj (game developer), Pharos (health expertise centre) and the Living Lab project Zuid. This PhD project is part of a larger project (NWO KIC project "ID-Buddy" (see https://www.nwo.nl/nieuws/kic-call-leefstijl-en-leefomgeving-honoreert-twee-onderzoeken) involving researchers from various academic domains (including epidemiology, health psychology, nutrition, socio-economic transitions, Human-AI interactions, data analytics). The project will start in September 2022. You will also teach in related courses and co-supervise Master graduate students within the project.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

- Completed master in industrial design (or closely related field such as health psychology, sociology etc.).

- Experience in Health/ lifestyle related design projects.

- Experience in social design.

- Experience in intervention design, co-creation, concept development and prototyping.

- Scientific writing skills.

- Interest in studying stakeholder values and value tensions.

- Ability to work in a team, take initiative, and work towards results in a systematic way.

- Experience in working with vulnerable people is a plus.

- Experience in collaborating with people from other disciplines and/or working as a designer in practice are a plus.

-Since a large part of the PhD activities concerns conducting co-creative studies with Dutch speaking stakeholders and neighbourhood members, Dutch-speaking PhD candidates are preferred.

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2443 per month in the first year to € 3122 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. At TU Delft we embrace diversity and aim to be as inclusive as possible (see our Code of Conduct). Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale.

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

Faculty Industrial Design Engineering

atching the evolution of people with the speed of the revolution of technology. This is the focus of the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE). Delft designers act as a bridge between advances in technology and the needs of people, organisations and society to create products, services and systems with purpose.

IDE is a leader in design research across the application areas of mobility, sustainability and health, as well as its development of design tools and methods. A 350-strong research team and over 2,000 students work together in our inspiring hall, labs and studios.

In close cooperation with industry, the public sector and NGOs we rehearse possible futures in research and education to design for a complex future.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering.