Graduation Projects
At the end of their studies, our students spend half a year fulltime on a design assignment of their own choice, often in cooperation with industry or public partners. I coach around five students each year. Past topics include innovations in play for general user groups (innovative outdoor playground equipment, tactile puzzle mats, pro-social computer games) as well as play objects for special user groups (toys for children with physical disabilities, classroom toys stimulating language development, relaxing play objects for hyperactive children, etc).
Elective 'Design for Children's Play and Learning'
Twice a year, twenty motivated master students attend this elective in which they learn to design toys, play objects, playground equipment, play landscapes etcetera. The focus of the course is on play value, the importance of play as an unguided, self-motivated activity, developmental aspects of play, and creativity in design of products for play. The course includes lectures, literature study and the design of a play concept.
Examples of the assignments: Download 
Examples of results: Download
Research Projects
Students get acquainted with research and research techniques by performing a literature research and conducting a practical research. I coach projects on children's play, primarily on the involvement of children in co-design and methods to explore the world of experience of children through contextmapping (see under publications).
contact
Mathieu GielenLandbergstraat 15
2628 CE Delft
room: 10-2A-41
phone: 015-2782749
email: m.a.gielen@tudelft.nl
Links to interesting sites
Platform Ruimte voor de jeugdArrak anagrams
Links to related topics:
ID-Studiolabour research
People who inspired me
Mickey MouseBrian Sutton-Smith
Michael Apter