Tanja Ubert – Master Design Research

Category: Research

  • Visual ethics & design style

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    Tanja Ubert
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    The visual language of Living Without Letters has been purposefully developed in relation to the topic and the people it represents. Although the designer has a background in classical drawing techniques through vocational training in fashion and garment design — enriched by years of painting and art practice — this project required a more approachable…

  • Feedback from experts

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    Tanja Ubert
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    Following playtests of the first and second game iterations, feedback was provided by Dieuwertje Schuur MSc, an expert in interaction design and play. She observed that the use of dice as the primary mechanism for determining both movement and action significantly limited players’ ability to influence their progression in the game. Because outcomes were largely…

  • Audio files

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    Tanja Ubert
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    Dutch Start van het spel Uitleg luidspreker symbool Brieven Brief 1 Brief 2 Brief 3 Brief 4 Brief 5 Brief 6 Eisen pasfoto Uitleg paspoort Weet jij waar ik een paspoort kan aanvragen? Antwoord buurman: Wat kost een paspoort? Wanneer is een paspoort klaar? Instructies sociale huurwoning English Start of the game Letters Letter 1…

  • Living atlas

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    Tanja Ubert
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    This Living Atlas is not a conclusion. It’s a beginning—an unfinished map made through co-creation, friction, failure, and wonder. By sharing this work, I aim to support others in noticing what often goes unseen, unheard, and unread. Let’s build a world that includes everyone.

  • Essay on results until may 2025

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    Designing for Inclusion: Learning from Illiteracy-Focused Experiments A short essay on competencies in socially engaged design research Introduction In a world increasingly mediated by complex information systems, those who cannot read or write are systematically excluded. As design researchers, we have the responsibility—and the tools—to design with empathy, through participation, and for transformation. This short…

  • Experiment: Designing an Inclusive Serious Game to Shift Perspectives on Illiteracy – 1st iteration

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    Tanja Ubert
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    As a design researcher, I developed a serious board game aimed at helping literate individuals experience what it feels like to navigate everyday life without the ability to read or write. This experiment builds on the outcomes of earlier puzzle-based experiences and contributes to the broader goal of designing for empathy and inclusion (Harbers, 2021).…

  • Experiment: Experiencing Illiteracy Through Design – A Perspective-Changing Puzzle

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    Tanja Ubert
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    As part of my design research into social inclusion and accessibility, I created an experiment aimed at giving literate participants a first-hand experience of what it might feel like to be unable to read. The experiment was built around the concept of “designing for empathy” (Mattelmäki, 2006), with the goal of encouraging a deeper understanding…

  • Interview with Ömer Hünkar

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    Introduction and Background Ömer Hünkar Ilik (62) migrated from Turkey to the Netherlands at the age of 19. His integration journey began within a Turkish community support system that exemplifies the strength of communal networks. He now dedicates his work to migrant seniors in disadvantaged positions, particularly in areas of poverty, health, and digital exclusion.…

  • Interview Maurice de Greef

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    Design Research, Social Inclusion, and the Role of Co-Creation: An Interview with Maurice de Greef In contemporary design research, the shift from object-centered approaches to socially engaged, human-centered practices has positioned researchers as intermediaries, facilitators, and advocates within complex societal systems. This transition is particularly evident in collaborations addressing illiteracy and social exclusion, where design…

  • Interview Koos Vervoort

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    Changing Roles, Deepening Expertise: Lessons from the Lived Experience of Koos Vervoort for Design Researchers In contemporary design research, the concept of expertise is being fundamentally redefined. Where once the “designer” was positioned as a central authority, recent approaches emphasize shared authorship, participatory methods, and the inclusion of lived experience as a legitimate form of…