Benjamin Zierock

Benjamin Zierock serves as Professor of Design and Innovation Development at SRH University of Applied Sciences Heidelberg since January 2019, concurrently holding the position of Program Director for Digital Transformation until August 2024. His professional trajectory includes coordination of GamesHub Heidelberg (2021-2023) and partnership at KickAss Sports GmbH (2020-2022), demonstrating applied industry engagement alongside academic work.

His educational foundation includes a Diplom Medienkünstler degree from Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe, establishing his expertise in media arts and design.

Professor Zierock's research interrogates innovation ecosystems through design thinking lenses, with particular emphasis on agile methodology adaptation across sectors. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical implementation in digital transformation contexts, examining user experience optimization in healthcare systems and sustainability integration in software development lifecycles. The cross-pollination of LEGO SERIOUS PLAY techniques with rapid prototyping methodologies represents a distinctive methodological signature in his scholarly contributions.

Analysis of his 2022-2024 publications reveals three dominant thematic clusters: agile education transformation (OKR/SCRUM frameworks), sustainable technology development (green software, smart city data governance), and participatory design systems (hackathons, radical usability). These streams consistently prioritize human-centered approaches while addressing systemic challenges in digital adoption.

His scientific recognition includes:

• Publikationspreis SRH Hochschule 2024 for outstanding scholarly contributions
• German Web Awards Winner 2021 for digital innovation excellence
• EIT Health Design Award 2018 for healthcare solution design

While formal student advisement structures aren't documented in available materials, Professor Zierock's leadership in GamesHub Heidelberg and Democratia-Aqua-Technica Initiative demonstrates mentorship through project-based learning environments. His cross-sector initiatives including KickAss Sports GmbH reveal entrepreneurial grant-seeking approaches focused on practical innovation implementation.

Current operational environments include GamesHub Heidelberg (fostering game development ecosystems) and ongoing involvement with the Democratia-Aqua-Technica Initiative, which employs cross-media strategies for sustainable project development aligned with European SDG frameworks. These platforms serve as living laboratories for testing his research on collaborative innovation and participatory design systems.