Before I start to sketch, I watch, listen and read. I need to understand the context, the product and its users. After that we define what the real problem is.
Design starts in my head, but as soon as I pick up the pen or laptop I make the idea visible. Visualisation allows me to communicate and find out what works.
The only way to make sure a design does what it is supposed to do, is create a prototype. I try to test a design as soon as possible when it is still easy to adapt.
I am at my best when a complicated concept or process has to be made easier. I like to reduce a design to its essentials, keeping only what is really needed. The result may not always be the flashiest, but it sure will be clear and easy to understand.
Below you find a few examples of projects I have worked on in the last years.
When we design a learning solution we have to look at the complete experience. This starts when the user receives an invite to participate in a course. It continues with registering, logging on to a learning system or platform, and starting the course. Then you actually do the learning. When you are finished you want to know the results, maybe get a certificate, revisit the course at a later time. In an ideal world this is a seamless experience. We are not there yet, but I try to minimize the hassle around e-learning.
NETFLIX™ asked a small e-learning firm from Utrecht to design a learning platform for them. Together with a colleague I drew the whole flow of the platform, both the front and back-end, on paper. I used Adobe Xd to make a wireframe simulation of the interaction.
A course is about learning, so the interface should not take any attention away from the content. I try to keep the design as minimalistic as possible and stick to interface conventions to minimize the effort for participants.
Many online courses contain interactive exercises such as drag & drop and sorting questions, scenario's, sliders, calculations, and many others. I designed quite a lot of these. Often the design of these interactions offer quite complex UI challenges.
Modules, for the lack of a better word, can be very different things. I have created many different ones. It all starts with the learning objective: what the end user or participant needs to know or has to be able to do after finishing the course. The products I created all try to reach these goals while being interactive, entertaining, challenging, thought-provoking and easy to use. Some examples of modules I made for clients below.
I made this e-learning about the Sustainable Development Goals for PwC employees. I created interactive graphs to make the content more engaging. PwC decided to make a version available for their clients as well.
Emergency responders have a standard way of working. I created a course with an interactive video scenario. Participants have to identify mistakes and answer questions while the clock is ticking. Watch the Linkedin post.
The ANWB wanted to train their employees how to use Android devices. I am an iOS user so first I had to learn this myself as well. I created a series of short trainings which covered many basic functions this mobile OS.
I have created a lot of animations for several clients. I start by writing the script and drawing screens at the same time. Because I can do both text and image reinforce one another. Next I make a detailed storyboard in PowerPoint which I can give to an animator who does the actual animating.
Railway personell needs to learn a lot. An animation is a fast way to bring them up to speed about important subjects. I wrote scripts and drew storyboards for many explanimations.
We found a suitable visual metaphor for the complex process of a pension fund. It involves a large tank and money from working people flowing in while pensions are flowing out. Watch it on YouTube.
Whiteboard animations are a cheap and fast way to make an interesting video. This example I made for management support employees to prepare them for changes in their daily work.
Learning can be fun. When you use game elements (gamification) or build entire games to achieve a learning effect. I have designed both online and offline games. It always surprises me how much a game can motivate people.
This board game can be played by Achmea employees who are not experts in insurance. While playing they learn about risk profiles and financial consequences of choices an insurance company makes.
The people responsible for the information for train travellers have to be trained to recognise various situations. In this game they can easily see what is happening on a model train track with small stations.
I designed an investment game which can be played with a live audience on iPads. Another project for this client was a mobile app with a short game to introduce investing in a managed fund to (potential) clients.
Not strictly a part of my job desription but still a fulfilling activity. The inBrain logo was redesigned by me, but I have made many more logos. Friends and family often ask me to design something for them. Find a small selection below.
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