In the 8D Knowledge Vault, we collect and publish information about human-centered innovation. From problem definition to implementation and long-term adoption — think of it as the innovation journey. It’s complex material, which we’re committed to mapping out in an accessible way together with partners and professionals in the field. Topics include questions like: how do I integrate iterative design into my research proposal? Or: how can I increase the chances of my innovation actually reaching the end user?
By continuously sharing knowledge and experiences, we collectively elevate the sector to a higher level. Would you like to contribute to our Knowledge Vault, or is there a topic you’d like us to cover? Get in touch with Nicole at nicole@8d.nl.
How can citizen science and design foster greater social interaction in neighborhoods? 8D collaborated with residents and researchers on solutions to strengthen social connection in Assen’s public spaces.
Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) explained: this article offers insight into how TRLs can help make your proposal more focused and targeted.
You’ll receive practical guidance to better understand and integrate TRLs into a grant application—from estimating the starting level to choosing an appropriate strategy.
Transdisciplinary research brings together scientists and societal actors such as designers, artists, and policymakers to tackle complex issues. Examples include ethical dilemmas surrounding technology, climate adaptation, or healthcare innovation. Despite its potential, implementation remains challenging in practice: how do you ensure equal collaboration? How do you bridge differences in working methods and language? We discussed these questions with Julia Hermann, Assistant Professor in Philosophy and Ethics of Technology at the University of Twente.
The power of creative interventions, such as games, hardly needs convincing anymore. But what happens once you’ve decided that an intervention is the right approach for your challenge? What is your role as the initiator? How can you already take implementation into account during the development of the game? Or, more practically: how do you make sure your idea for an intervention fits within the framework of a research proposal? Every six months, we publish an in-depth whitepaper exploring these kinds of complex questions. Always created in collaboration with valued partners, freely accessible, and packed with tips and inspiration.
Why do games for healthcare still regularly end up on the shelf, rather than with the end user? We sat down with a researcher, an innovation manager, a physician and a business expert to answer this question. Download the whitepaper for lots of insights and recommendations!
What is the relationship between serious gaming, science and psychology? And why is serious gaming really much more than a game anyway? This white paper is not about games, but about serious gaming as a scientific method for researching (social) tasks!
Procuring a serious game is an art in itself. Buyers of large organizations and developers interact during the process, even though they do not always speak the same language. Use our whitepaper as a guide so that the procedure runs smoothly and the risks are managed as well as possible.
We love creating our own informative content, but we’re also regularly featured in podcasts, interviews, and news segments about innovation, gaming, and implementation. After a decade of hands-on innovation — with plenty of successes and even more lessons learned from what went wrong — Johan and Maarten have a compelling story to tell. Their experiences and vision make them inspiring speakers for any audience interested in the field.
Johan van der Meulen is co-owner and Innovation Director at 8D. He has years of experience in designing tools and interventions for healthcare and education. His career started as a programmer, but he evolved into an authority on design thinking and research. Johan is known for his sharp focus on bridging the gap between academic research and real-world applications that truly make a difference in people’s lives.
Maarten Stevens is the founder of 8D and develops innovative solutions for the healthcare sector, businesses, and government. He firmly believes that creativity and play have the power to improve lives — when applied the right way. Maarten has specialized in optimizing the processes between developers, clients, and the market. He’s passionate about sharing his insights on how games can drive positive change.
