I am an Assistant Professor at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Department of Industrial Design and the TU/e Expertise Center for Dementia & Technology (ECDT). 

I am passionate about designing and researching multisensory and tangible technologies that positively impact the wellbeing of vulnerable users or communities by providing social, sensory, and aesthetic enrichment during everyday life.

Feel free to contact me or follow my research via LinkedInGoogle Scholar or ResearchGate!
Research Interests
In 2022, I obtained my PhD cum laude by investigating the beneficial effects of everyday sounds and soundscapes in technologies for people with dementia. I adopt an inclusive design approach by closely involving end-users and stakeholders such as vulnerable people, their social context, care practitioners, and policymakers in the design process of emerging technologies that address quality of life. I hold a master’s degree in engineering sciences: architecture and gained research experience in Human-Computer Interaction and interactive media architecture at the Research[x]Design group at KU Leuven. With a background in architecture, engineering sciences, and design, I strive to research in transdisciplinary settings by designing and evaluating tangible design artefacts that provide rich multisensory experiences in everyday environments, such as people’s homes or public spaces, including sensitive settings, such as care homes.
Selected Publications
The Role of Everyday Sounds in Advanced Dementia Care
Maarten Houben, Rens Brankaert, Saskia Bakker, Gail Kenning, Inge Bongers, and Berry Eggen
In Proceedings of the 2020 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '20)

Designing for Everyday Sounds at Home with People with Dementia and their Partners. 
Maarten Houben, Rens Brankaert, Gail Kenning, Inge Bongers and Berry Eggen
In Proceedings of the 2022 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI’ 22)

Engaging Passers-by with Rhythm: Applying Feedforward Learning to a Xylophonic Media Architecture Facade
Binh Vinh Duc Nguyen, Jihae Han, Maarten Houben, Yssmin Bayoumi, and Andrew Vande Moere 
In Proceedings of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI’ 23)

Foregrounding Everyday Sounds in Dementia
Maarten Houben, Rens Brankaert, Saskia Bakker, Gail Kenning, Inge Bongers, and Berry Eggen
In Proceedings of the 2019 Conference on Designing Interactive Systems (DIS '19)

Enriching Everyday Lived Experiences in Dementia Care
Maarten Houben, Rens Brankaert, Emma Dhaeze, Gail Kenning, Inge Bongers and Berry Eggen
In Proceedings of the 2022 Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction (TEI '22)
DOI | PDF | Video


For the full list, see Publications or Google Scholar
Research projects
Homing Compass: Designing for navigation and outdoor life in dementia (2022 - 2024) | Website
Eindhoven University of Technology – Alzheimer Nederland
Everyday Sounds of Dementia: A ZonMW Create Health Project (2018 - 2021) | Website
Eindhoven University of Technology - Tilburg University - Slimmer Leven - Archipel
Sounds Like Home - CLICKNL Fieldlab Sense Of Home (2021) | Website
Eindhoven University of Technology - Fontys - Qwiek - Vitalis
MUURmelaar: an Interactive Facade with Architectural Value (2016 - 2018) | Website
Research[x]Design - KU Leuven - DMOA
Citizen Dialogue Kit for smart cities, citizen science and open data (2017 - 2018) | Website
OrganiCity - Research[x]Design - KU Leuven
Academic service
Reviewer CHI 2023 Full Paper Track (Special Recognition for Outstanding Review)
Reviewer CUI 2023 Poster track
Program Committee Member CHI 2022 Late-Breaking Work
Program Committee Member Dementia Lab Conference 2022
Reviewer CHI 2022 Full Paper Track (2 Special Recognitions for Outstanding Reviews)
Reviewer TEI 2022 Full Paper Track
Reviewer CSCW 2022 Full Paper Track
Program Committee Member CHI 2021 Late-Breaking Work
Program Committee Member Dementia Lab Conference 2020/2021 Full Paper Track
Reviewer CHI 2021 Full Paper Track
Reviewer DIS 2021 Full Paper Track
Reviewer TEI 2021 Full Paper Track
Reviewer Journal on Behaviour & Information Technology (BIT) 2021 Journal Article
Program Committee Member Dementia Lab Conference 2019 Full Paper Track
Experience & education
Assistant Professor (2023 - Current)
Department of Industrial Design, 
Eindhoven University of Technology,
Postdoc (2022 - '23)
TU/e Expertise Center for Dementia & Technology
PhD Candidate (2018 - '22)
Department of Industrial Design, 
Eindhoven University of Technology
Guest Researcher (2018 - '22)
TRANZO Center for Care and Wellbeing, 
Tilburg University
Research Assistant (2017 - '18)
Research[x]Design
Department of Architecture, KU Leuven
Research Internship (2016)
Research[x]Design
Department of Architecture, KU Leuven
M.Sc. Engineering: Architecture (2015 - '17)
Faculty of Engineering Science, KU Leuven
B.Sc. Engineering: Architecture (2012 - '15)
Faculty of Engineering Science, KU Leuven
AWARDS
Finalist AN Dissertation Award | LINK
Alzheimer Nederland 2023
Runner-up INTERDEM Academy Publication Award | LINK
Interdem Academy 2022-2023.
Nominated TU/e Science Awards: Best PhD Thesis | LINK
2023, TU/e Research Day.
Doctoral Dissertation Awarded Cum Laude | LINK
2022, Eindhoven University of Technology.
Shortlisted for IxDA Awards 2022 | LINK
The Interaction Design Association.
Best Paper Award CHI'20 (top 1%) | LINK
2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.
Best Paper Award DIS'19 (top 1%) | LINK
2019 ACM conference on Designing Interactive Systems, San Diego, California.
Media Architecture Award 2018 LINK 
in category 'Animated Architecture' 
at the Media Architecture Biennale '18, Beijing.
Nomination Belgian Building Awards 2018 | LINK
in category 'Art Integration', Batibouw, Brussels.
BESIX Master's Thesis Award 2017 | LINK
of the Faculty of Engineering Science at KU Leuven.
Skills
Research Methods: 
Ethnography, in-situ observations, interviews, context mapping, inclusive co-creation methods, Wizard of Oz experiment, and participatory workshops.
Prototyping: 
Basic programming and electronics (Processing, Arduino), Digital Fabrication (UR5-robot, Laser cutter, 3D printing), simulation (Unity, Cinema 4D).
Design: 
Adobe CC, Scenarios and storyboards, paper prototyping, architectural design, computational design and sound-based design.
Teaching
2018-2020: Acoustic Awareness Course, Sound of Science (7S5X0): coach
2018-current: Design Project: Inclusive Design and Thoughtful Technology* (DEP001): coach/expert
Turnaround: Exploring Care Relations in Dementia Through Design (Published as LBW at CHI '20) by Benjamin Lehn, Noa van den Brink, Sabeth Diks, Jasmijn Verhoef
RelivRing: Reliving Social Activities for People with Dementia (Published as LBW at CHI '20) by Tom Cobbenhagen, Rens Janssen, Maria Væver Olsen, Karlijn van Rijen
2018-current: Master Design Research Projects* (DPM120): expert
Exploring How an Interactive Placemat Can Influence Eating Activities for People with Dementia (Published at D-Lab '19) by Ward de Groot
Smile: Capturing and Sharing Personal Photos to Stimulate Social Relations and Support Self-Identity in Dementia (Published at D-Lab '21) by Veerle van Engen
Sounds Like Home: Sonically Augmenting Care Environments to Offer a Sense of Home by Melvin van Berlo (Published at DRS 2022)
(*selected example projects)
2018-current: Final Master Project (DEM220): expert
SoundscapePillow: Creating Personalised Auditory Experiences for People with Dementia (Published at D-Lab '19) by Daniel van Pel
CIJN: Facilitating a cognitive and physical intervention for people with dementia and informal caregivers at home by Melvin van Berlo
2018-2022: Master's Thesis Engineering Sciences: Architecture (B-KUL-H03N9A): assessor
Evaluating sound interaction strategies for a media facade by Evelien Feys
Designing interaction scenarios for a sound-based media facade to engage passers-by by Simon Meekers
2022: User Experience Design (0HM110): Expert & Guest Lecture
2023: Bachelor End Project at TU/e Innovation Space (ISBEP): Challenge Owner
Presentations & Workshops
Exhibitor: Dutch Design Week 2023: AGE FICTION(S) INVESTIGATIONS, Eindhoven, October 2023
Paper Presentation: DIS2023: Designing Interactive Systems, Pittsburgh, July 2023
Paper Presentation: DRS2022: Design Research Society Conference, Bilbao, June 2022
Paper Presentation: Dutch Post-CHI 2020, Amsterdam, June 2022
Paper Presentation: ACM CHI Workshop: 'TANGIBLE INTERACTION FOR WELL-BEING', New Orleans, May 2022
Invited Talk: Dutch Design Week: DRIVE Live 2021 - Health, Eindhoven, October 2021 (watch video)
Invited Talk: Zorg Innovatie Platform, Zuidoost Brabant, online, June 2021 (watch video)
Invited Talk: LSH PPS dag 2021, online, March 2021
Paper Presentation: Dementia Lab 2021, online, January 2021 (watch video)
Invited Talk: Dutch Design Week 2020, Embassy of Health, online, October 2020
Paper Presentation: DIS conference on Designing Interactive Systems 2020, online, July 2020 (watch video)
Paper Presentation: Dutch CHI, online, June 2020 (watch video)
Paper Presentation: CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, online, May 2020 (watch video)
Paper Presentation: ACM CHI Workshop: 'HCI at End of Life & Beyond', online, May 2020
Paper Presentation: CHI Down Under, online, May 2020
Workshop Organiser: 'Zoek Het UIt' Conference, Lochal Tilburg, December 2019
Invited Talk: 29th Alzheimer Europe Conference, The Hague, October 2019
Paper Presentation: Dementia Lab Conference, Eindhoven, October 2019
Paper Presentation: ACM Conference on Designing Interactive Systems, San Diego CA, June 2019
Invited Talk: 15e Bijeenkomst Lerend Netwerk Dementie, Rode Kruis Eindhoven, June 2019
Project Pitch: DRIVE Festival: E-Health for Healthy Ageing, Eindhoven, October 2018
Workshop Organiser: Dementia Lab Conference, Newcastle, August 2018
Invited Talk: 11e Bijeenkomst Lerend Netwerk Dementie, ZuidZorg Eindhoven, May 2018
PRESS
Interview | Co-creatie bij het ontwikkelen van geluidsdragers voor mensen met dementie ZonMw June 2023
Industrieel ontwerp zet de mens in de zorg centraal Mestmag February 2023
The memory of sound CURSOR November 2022
Tumbler on the shortlist for IxDA' 2022 Interaction Awards IxDA March 2022
Everyday Sounds of Dementia: Designing Warm Technology for and with People with Dementia: MMI Platform January 2022
Healthtech speelt een steeds grotere rol bij de kwaliteit van leven:  Innovation Origins NL Mei 2021
Warme technologie: design met én voor mensen met dementie: Publicaties ZonMw Maart 2021
Onderzoek naar inzet 3D-geluid voor meer thuisgevoel: Vitalis Nieuws Maart 2021
Dutch Design Week 2020, World Design Embassies: Co-design in de anderhalvemetermaatschappij October 2020
PhD Students Are Valued Members of Our Research Activity: TU/e LinkedIn January 2020
Contact maken dankzij het VITA beleefkussen: Slimmer Leven December 2019
Nadenken over het beleefkussen vanuit Cees, Ellen en Piet: Zoekhetuit! December 2019
Kussen helpt voor beter contact bij dementie: Skipr Tea Keijl. 12, 9: 30–33. September 2019
Resultaten Everyday Sounds of Dementia Workshops: Archipel Nieuws June 2019
Eerste resultaten workshops Everyday Sounds of Dementia: Slimmer Leven April 2019
MUURmelaar wins the 2018 Media Architecture Awards: KU Leuven Nieuws March 2019
Een muzikale gevel? Deze architecten kregen het voor elkaarHet Laatste Nieuws February 2019
Kom zelf de MUURmelaar ervaren!: Dag van de Wetenschap 2018 November 2018
MUURmelaar Interactive Facade Media Architecture Biennale October 2018
MUURmelaar verrast voorbijgangers: Innovatief April 2018
Gevel reageert op voorbijgangers: ROB-TV March 2018
Levende gevel maakt geluid wanneer je passeert: Nieuwsblad March 2018
A singing building to brighten your day: India Art N Design March 2018
Levende gevel begroet voorbijgangers met geluiden: ENTRR March 2018
Levende Leuvense gevel begroet voorbijgangers met geluiden: KU Leuven Nieuws March 2018
Geluidsproject Muurmelaar nieuw kantoor DMOA: ARCHITECTURA March 2018
Masterproefprijzen: Geniaal: Tijdschrift Faculteit Ingenieurswetenschappen October 2017​​​​​​​
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