This year’s symposium focuses on putting usability knowledge into practice. With this in mind two design professionals from Philips and Indes are asked to tell more about the way in which user centred product development has changed within their companies over the last few years. Since Philips and Indes are closely involved within the Design for Usability project they will also give their view on the project and their collaboration with the project.

Philips – Bert Ipema

Within the Philips Innovation site Domestic Appliances & Coffee in Drachten Bert is the senior manager of the Product Research Centre. Here he and his team provide guidance to product developers, designers and product managers from the perspective of the end-user by translating the voice of the consumer into functional, usability and experience requirements.

Indes – Willem Mees van der Bijl

Willem Mees is team leader of the Design & Engineering team at Indes. As industrial design engineer, he is specialized in user centred design in the field of medical and consumer products. He has extensive experience in development projects with both usability challenges and opportunities.