With the summer holidays just around the corner and another busy and surprisingly successful year behind us, it was time for a team outing! We got some fresh air on Schiermonnikoog – unfortunately with hot chocolate instead of ice cream due to the weather – but we had a great time nonetheless!

Data Collection through Product Development | 8D Data collection through product development: how does it work, and why is it valuable for researchers?

In our projects, we see two main pathways through which product development supports #datacollection for research purposes: during the (co-creative) design process itself, and when the prototype or final product is used as a research instrument. Read more on our new page: 8d.nl/en/mogelijkh...

Design thinking in healthcare: design the change, not just the solution Design thinking in healthcare often stops once the product is finished. This article shows why the change itself also needs to be designed through co-creation.

Design thinking in healthcare: "Design the change, not just the solution".

In our latest article, we share insights drawn from a decade of experience as designers in the research and innovation field.

8d.nl/en/mogelijkh...

#designthinking #innovation #researchimpact

Proud to contribute our design expertise to EFF-CoP: an ambitious, transdisciplinary #HorizonEurope project committed to fighting food fraud and increasing transparency in the food supply chain.👉 Check out the initiative's website – (and our fresh logo!) at: www.eff-cop.eu

Effective knowledge transfer: how research findings reach society through design Effective knowledge transfer: how do you tackle it as a researcher? How participatory design helps implement new science knowledge

Researchers generate insights that could truly benefit society, yet many outcomes remain within academic circles. We explore how embedding design approaches in your research increases knowledge transfer and impact —and share inspiring examples. Read more: 8d-games.nl/en/mogelijkh...

#researchimpact

Citizen Science and Design: designing and researching together Citizen science: residents and researchers together design solutions for meeting and movement in public spaces.

What if residents helped shape public space as co-researchers?

Together with NHL Stenden’s Care Innovation group, 8D applied a #citizenscience meets design approach to explore what “social connection” means locally — developing solutions rooted in lived experience.

8d-games.nl/en/citizen-s...

Stumbled across the Researchers on a Mission series – inspiring reads highlighting researchers turning bold missions into real impact.

Reading tip for anyone working in #research and #innovation!

projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/en/horizon-m...

#ResearchImpactEU

Nienke Beerlage-de Jong on creative intervention development eZoon In a series of interviews with partners of 8D, we discuss creative intervention development within research projects. In the first episode: Dr Nienke Beerlage-de Jong from the University of Twente.

🧠 How do you design serious games that actually work in public health?

In our collab with Dr. Nienke Beerlage-de Jong (UT), we co-created eZoon—a tool tackling wicked problems like zoonotic outbreaks through participatory design.

Dive in 👉 8d-games.nl/en/nienke-be...
#eHealth #OneHealth

Serious gaming, science and psychology | Whitepaper Find out what psychological principles game designers apply and why serious gaming is perfect as a method for audience-based research.

🎮 Serious gaming = more than a game.
Explore how psychology & science shape game-based research and behavior change.

Whitepaper – now available in English (no email gate - just reach out to us if you want to discuss!): 8d-games.nl/en/mogelijkh...

#SeriousGames #BehaviorChange #GameBasedResearch

Everyone loves designing the tool. But who’s creating the content? Content often gets sidelined—until it causes delays. We take a different approach: co-creative writing sessions with all stakeholders. How do you handle content in #innovation projects? What works – and what definitely doesn't?

EMPOWER YOUR INNOVATION JOURNEY

Open call to #citizenscience projects and #industries:
Join our pilots to solve #innovation challenges through citizen science and the co-design of new business models.
More info on our eu-citizen.science platform:
eu-citizen.science/ecs_project/...
When: 1-15 April

European Consortia | International Partnerships | Research & Innovation European game development partnerships: why we think it's important to look across borders when developing serious games >>>

Just launched a new section on our website showcasing our experience in international partnerships, consortium building, and EU grants! Excited that our cross-border adventures and EU project expertise now have a place on our renewed site: 8d-games.nl/en/mogelijkh...

European Food Fraud Community of Practice (EFF-CoP) – Design Expertise in Horizon Europe The EFF-CoP project combats food fraud and enhances transparency in the food supply chain. 8D provides design expertise to develop educational tools and dissemination resources.

✨ Another fresh portfolio page ✨ The EFF-CoP project aims to combat #foodfraud and enhance transparency within the food supply chain. 8D contributes its design expertise to create innovative tools for knowledge transfer and disseminating research findings. #horizoneurope 8d-games.nl/en/projecten...

SPHeRE Scholar Application Procedure Apply to the SPHeRE PhD Programme Scholar applications are now open for the 2025 academic year. There are three modes of application for entry to the SPHeRE Structured PhD Programme: The first mode is...

⭐ Gender, Intersectionality and Caregiving - PhD opportunity

Project exploring gendered dynamics and intersectional challenges for informal caregivers for older adults living with stroke or dementia.

Closing date: 28th April

#PhdSky #AcademicSky

www.sphereprogramme.ie/scholar-appl...

Sustainable energy transition | Intervention Foster collaboration on the energy transition through play. Explore the innovative intervention we designed for the Municipality of Amersfoort.

In collaboration with eVRgreen Studio, our designers developed the board game ‘Warmlopen in Amersfoort’. This intervention is designed to help the Municipality of Amersfoort engage its residents in a collective reflection on their city’s sustainability. Read more: 8d-games.nl/en/projecten...

Last week, @johanvandermeulen.bsky.social and I attended 'Successful R&I in Europe 2025', a #HorizonEurope matchmaking event in Düsseldorf, connecting ambitious researchers and entrepreneurs. Inspiring, especially as we’re actively working on the Horizon Project EFF-CoP, tackling food fraud.

Transdisciplinary Research: Challenges and Recommendations Transdisciplinary Research: Challenges and Recommendations. We explored this topic with Dr. Julia Hermann (University of Twente). Read more:

In our latest blog, we discuss the challenges of transdisciplinary research and potential solutions. We draw from our own experiences as designers in academia and an insightful conversation with Dr. Julia Hermann, Assistant Professor of Ethics at the University of Twente. 8d-games.nl/en/transdisc...

Interested? Drop a comment or send us a DM to get on our mailing list! Stay updated on new opportunities and join in whenever it suits you—no pressure, no obligations.

📸: Developing the Growth Game, on of our recent educational projects! [4/4]

Why join?
🫶 Be the first to access innovative educational materials.
📚 Make an impact by contributing to the development of future learning resources.
🌍 Traveling opportunities – occasionally, there are chances to visit our European project partners! [3/4]

Think of things like:
✔️ Filling out an online survey or participating in a short (online) interview
✔️ Testing new learning materials—we’re currently developing a board game about food waste! 🎲
✔️ The chance to give feedback and influence the creation of new educational resources [2/4]

📣 Are you a teacher who loves shaping the future of education? We’re looking for educators—from primary school to vocational and adult education—who are interested in occasionally sharing their insights or testing innovative learning materials. [1/4]

project group INTER-ACT showing character art for the picture book

We’re creating an educational picture book to promote #diversity and #inclusion in primary education. During the last consortium visit at our office, we revealed the character art by our talented colleague Edwin! Exciting to see the book taking shape ✨ Read more: 8d-games.nl/en/projecten...

Co-creation in research: insights and outcomes | Research & Design What are the academic and societal benefits of a participatory approach? A blog on the 'unexpected gains' of co-creation in (healthcare) research.

In what ways can co-creation strengthen academic and societal impact? Get inspired by our collaboration with researcher Lise Beumeler on a #VR prototype for ICU recovery, which led to strong participant engagement, follow-up studies and media coverage: 8d-games.nl/en/co-creati...

Implementing and scaling physical activity apps | Expert interview Dr. Ayla Schwarz (Wageningen University) explored the barriers and opportunities for implementing and scaling up gamification. Discover more:

📢 Just published: an expert interview with Dr. Ayla Schwarz (Wageningen University) on the opportunities and barriers in scaling #gamification and physical activity apps like Missie Master—developed by 8D and Sportbedrijf Drachten.

8d-games.nl/en/ayla-schw...

Strengthening multilingual literacy in early education | 8D Read with MEE and 8D are collaborating to enhance multilingual literacy in early education, paving the way for inclusive and diverse learning environments.

We're updating our website with new projects! One of them is Read with MEE, dedicated to strengthening #multilingual #literacy in early education: 8d-games.nl/en/projecten...

With Mercator European Research Centre / @fryskeakademy.bsky.social #nhlstenden and universities in Basque Country / Dublin.

group photo after work session at 8D

group of PhD candidates working on their own Impact Plan using the Theory of Change

Impression of inspiration session at design agency 8D

This was fun! 🎉 Campus Fryslân - University of Groningen invited us to give their PhD candidates a behind-the-scenes look at our work: how can researchers use design to translate their process and findings into real-world impact? Lovely morning with a lovely group of people! #designdrivenresearch