Len Kromkamp

Len Kromkamp is a designer at the School of Sports Studies, Fontys University of Applied Sciences with a background in Industrial Design. Together with Dennis Arts he is working on the development of a methodology that enables designers to systematically and interdisciplinary design, custom-made, wearables that contribute to the incorporation of physical activity into the daily routine of adults. Besides this, Len is working on the development of educational courses combining sport, technology and design.

PRESENTATION

In designing health-related wearable technologies, to promote sustainable physical activity, expertise, knowledge and skills from different disciplines should be combined. Reason is the growing levels of physical inactivity, the speed of change in technological innovations and the changing user needs. Yet, a collaboration between disciplines is not straightforward and needs special attention.

Experts from different disciplines have different backgrounds, design methods, implementation, evaluation and use a different ‘language’ which leads to sub-optimal project outcomes. We present the development of a board game as a tool to provide an environment for the interdisciplinary teams in which these factors are reduced or removed. Our goal is to allow interdisciplinary teams to become faster, making them progress through their design cycle earlier, more quickly and effectively.