“Back in high school, I was good at maths and interested in design, so I thought studying Mechanical Engineering was the perfect choice. But after graduating, I started doubting whether it was too much maths and physics.
At the Open Day of the Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam, which I attended to learn more about the Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, I came across Creative Technology. It seemed like a perfect mix of maths, programming, design, prototyping, and testing. I also liked that it's broad: I knew I wanted to work with technology, but I wasn’t sure in what way yet. Now, through my Bachelor’s in Creative Technology, I’m discovering my interests.
Learning by doing
What I enjoy most is that at the end of every module—we have four modules per year—there is a project where we work in groups. One of my favourite projects was designing something to make our environment smarter. My group came up with the idea to improve cyclists' and pedestrians' safety in Amsterdam by installing sensor-powered LED strips on the sidewalks next to cycle lanes. We created a small-scale prototype where the lights would turn red when cyclists approached, warning distracted pedestrians—even those looking at their phones—to watch out.
In another module, we worked on a project for a start-up founded by Creative Technology alumni, which was awesome! The assignment was to design something that helps people who work in offices move more throughout the day. We designed a small laser-cut bunny whose ears flapped when the person sat too long. Its eyes were an LCD screen displaying messages like “It's time to move. Do you have a minute?”, and the person could press 'Yes' or 'No'. The bunny tracked movement and, at the end of the day, changed expressions—sad if you didn’t move enough, neutral if you did okay, and happy if you were active. It was exciting to apply the theory from lectures, such as maths, programming, and psychology, and make something useful to people!
Two universities, more learning benefits
You can choose whether to study Creative Technology at VU in Amsterdam or at UT in Enschede, thanks to a collaboration between the two universities. At the end of some modules, for example, we go to the campus of the University of Twente in Enschede to use its facilities, such as the DesignLab. Sometimes we stay there for just a day; other times, we spend a week. We can sleep at lodges, which I think is a great way to bond with other students. Once we even had a karaoke night!
In some modules, we can choose whether to work on a project at VU in Amsterdam or at the University of Twente in Enschede. Since I'm interested in sensors, I chose a project at the University of Twente where we had to program a robot to move through a maze using sensors. The wheels and motors were provided, and we had to design the system that processed the signals and made the decisions. The challenge was to make the robot detect a specific frequency, figure out the correct way by reading barcodes, and then reach the final destination. It was difficult, but I learned a lot about sensors, feedback systems, and how robots can interact with their environment. Plus, I met a lot of students, which was great!
Looking ahead
I'm involved in various extracurricular activities: I am on the board of the study association at VU, Kliché, and I also work as a teaching assistant. I hope that by the end of my studies, I will have a clearer idea of what I like the most—sensors, design, or something else—and continue with a master's. Perhaps I’ll do the Master’s in Interaction Technology, but it’s too early to say. For now, l am focused on making the most of my studies.”
