Design Thinking (AS1)

Registration Form

Registration is optional. However, only registered participants will receive a certificate of participation.

Online Link

Speakers:
Prof. Rommert Dekker, Professor of Econometrics, Operations Research and Informatics
Susanna Osinga, Research Assistant, TU Delft
Maurits Oldenburg, Innovator & Learning Architect , Erasmus University

Title: Design Thinking
Date: 2026-03-27
Time: 11:00 - 13:00 (CET), 12:00 - 14:00 (EET)
Location: Online Link
Meeting ID: 363 254 786 932 80
Password: tt3W3i3r
Host: Prof. Rommert Dekker, EUR

Abstract: Join us for an interactive seminar on Design Thinking, a practical methodology that empowers researchers and innovators to develop user-centred solutions to complex challenges. Through this session, participants will gain a hands-on understanding of the five phases of Design Thinking — Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test — and how these can drive innovation and capacity building in EU-funded research. The seminar combines an introduction to the methodology with a practical demonstration of Design Thinking tools, using a real-world case related to electric vehicle (EV) charging. Participants will explore and apply selected tools from each phase to experience how Design Thinking transforms ideas into actionable outcomes. This session is ideal for graduate and doctoral students, academic researchers, and innovation professionals interested in applying structured creativity to research and development.

Short bios:

Prof. Rommert Dekker: Rommert Dekker is a professor of operations research, quantitative logistics, and IT at the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE). Professor Dekker currently leads an industry-sponsored research program on service logistics. He has received numerous accolades for his research including ERIM's impact award which honours ERIM researchers who have successfully impacted management practice and the OR Society's Goodeeve medal for best applied paper. Professor Dekker began his career working at Shell Research. During his seven years at the company he published over 100 papers on topics including reverse logistics, service logistics, inventory control, maintenance optimisation, container logistics and transport optimisation. He was also co-founder of the well-known network for reverse logistics REVLOG.

Susanna Osinga: Susanna Osinga is Coordinator of Transdisciplinary Research and Co-Creation and leads the Erasmus Social Design Hub. With a background in strategic design, she now works at the intersection of social sciences research and design, facilitating collaborations that create societal impact.

Maurits Oldenburg: Maurits Oldenburg is a Design Thinking facilitator and innovation designer at Erasmus University Rotterdam, where he helps researchers, educators and project teams turn complex challenges into actionable ideas. With a background in learning design and a passion for creative problem‑solving, Maurits builds hands‑on sessions that bridge strategy, collaboration and experimentation. He specializes in making innovation methods accessible; whether through rapid ideation, prototyping, or structured co‑creation.