Thesis Project

The relationship between science and art is often undermined or dismissed as a mere momentary collaboration, in which one field borrows from the other in a slow but natural exchange of insights and discoveries. Nevertheless, by actively studying the relation between these, we can gain valuable insight into the ways one can support the other for the further development of both.

This thesis explores how immersive experience design can be used as an intervention to increase awareness of textile overconsumption and support early stages of behavioural change in 18 to 25 year old consumers. Grounded in literature on textile pollution across the lifecycle of garments, consumerist drivers, and behavioural change theory, the project follows the Design for Creative Technology methodology to develop a realised artefact: a linear, emotionally structured immersive audiovisual installation. The experience uses scripted emotional journeys, presented through projection-based visuals and interactive sound, to translate information about the lifecycle of textiles into a tangible, relatable experience.

The installation was evaluated through pre- and post-experience semi-structured interviews with participants. A structured coding approach was used to compare shifts in awareness, perceived personal relevance, and behavioural intentions. Findings indicate a consistent reduction in psychological distance and expressed a strong willingness to adopt sustainable consumption behaviours.

Vintissimo

Together with co-founder Nicoletta Bardelli, Vintissimo organized events centered around sustainability and mindful consumption within the textile industry. It started as a small organization, featuring an innovative clothing swap system designed for a fair trade dealt in terms of quality, manufacturing, and materials. Since the first events, the markets aimed to be a space to host small local initiatives for sustainability, collaborating with artisans and artists. Vintissimo grew to be a pillar of sustainable culture in Enschede, joining forces with the Enschede Fashion Week, organizing swap markets, workshops, and catwalks. Furthermore in 2023, Vintissimo flew to Florence and worked with the local Circolo Vie Nuove, organizing markets and events.

Within Vintissimo, I handled creative direction, garment intake, and quality assurance. Photoshoots, marketing campaigns, styling for catwalks, and stage design for events—within Vintissimo I explored the full spectrum of needs to run an event, all within the bigger goal of creating awareness around textile consumption.

FPV Drones

Among my many hobbies and interests, I design and build ultra-light FPV (First Person View) acrobatic drones. Through this hands-on process, I developed the technical and theoretical skills involved in drone engineering and piloting—at its peak building custom drones weighing under 18 grams equipped with long-distance radio telemetry.

Construction Experience

During my work at Cube Bouldergym, I worked full-time in construction for several months during the expansion of the climbing facility—learning to operate heavy machinery, fabricate climbable walls, and execute both standard and atypical structural renovation tasks. This hands-on experience reinforced my confidence as a physical builder, adding to the practical skill set developed throughout my studies.

Interactive Stool for Sedentary Behavior

Together with a student team, we developed this smart ergonomic stool to combat sedentary office behaviors and the health risks associated with prolonged desk work. Through user research into posture dynamics, we engineered a seating solution that requires continuous minimal core engagement. Featuring an adjustable height system for personalized leg ergonomics and a slightly unstable pivot base, the stool forces subtle active posture corrections throughout the workday without sacrificing stability.

To enrich the active seating experience, we integrated an onboard gyroscope and microcontroller to track hip movement in real-time. This system drives two core interactions: an integrated work/break balance timer, and an active break mode where the stool functions as a physical hip-controlled joystick for playing mini-games to unwind during work pauses.