Vaes, Kristof

After obtaining a master degree in Product Development at the University College of Antwerp, I worked for about ten years in several Design Teams and Offices in Flanders. Most of my design practice is focused on concept development, human centered design and engineering design. In 2006 I started my academic career as a guest teacher for the Artesis University College of Antwerp (Product Development). Two years later, this resulted in the start of a PhD research project and a job as assistant teacher for that same institute. I currently teach a theoretical course called 'Product Semantics' and guide students in design projects such as 'User Experience Design', 'Mechanical Design' and 'Master Projects in Design Research'. With my PhD research, in cooperation with the TU-Delft (Prof. P.J.Stappers / IO StudioLab) and the University of Antwerp, I hope to assist designers if they are faced with the challenge of designing a stigma sensitive product…in four words: “Stigma Free Product Design”.