Background

Steven Dorrestijn followed a two-year’s program in mechanical engineering and took courses on the history of design. He has a master’s degree in Philosophy of Science, Technology and Society from the University of Twente. During a placement with Novem (agency for sustainable technology) and a subsequent research position at the University of Twente he worked on interdisciplinary approaches to behaviour directing effects of technology. In 2005 Dorrestijn received a grant from the French government which allowed him to get a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Paris, Nanterre. In May 2007 Dorrestijn returned to the University of Twente to start his PhD research on Product Impact which allows him to combine his interest in both product design and philosophy.

“Usability is a challenge for present day design, because it stands for the quality of the interaction with the products in an age where we are becoming evermore dependant of technology.”