Deborah Nas

Deborah Nas is Professor of Strategic Design for Technology-based innovation at the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology. She operates at the intersection of Technology, Business, and Psychology, with a particular focus on consumer behavior and technology adoption. Her academic work spans strategic design, technology-based innovation, and exploring the societal impact of emerging technologies. She has been instrumental in developing the faculty's new bachelor program and serves on TU Delft's Dream Hall steering committee.

Dr. Nas graduated with an MSc in Industrial Design Engineering with honors from Delft University of Technology (1990-1996). Prior to her academic career, she gained extensive industry experience working at Philips and KPN, followed by 16 years as co-founder and manager of a strategic innovation agency where she worked with global and local brands on implementing new innovation processes.

Her research focuses on understanding why people embrace or reject technological innovations, with particular emphasis on strategic design methodologies that help innovators find hidden opportunities at the intersection of what is right for people, business, and the world. She developed the 'Tech Design Strategies' methodology and accompanying toolkit that enables students and professional innovators to design for technology adoption, resulting in more successful tech products. Her work addresses critical challenges in technology adoption, consumer behavior, and the societal implications of emerging technologies like quantum computing and future mobility systems.

Her publications demonstrate a consistent focus on strategic design approaches to complex technological challenges, spanning mobility futures, quantum technologies, and innovation methodologies. These works reflect her interdisciplinary approach that bridges technical possibilities with human-centered design principles and business viability considerations.

• Coordinator of 'TU Delft Mobilizers', a multidisciplinary team of twelve scientists specializing in mobility
• Core team member of the vision team on quantum internet
• Member of the vision team on quantum computing
• Coordinator of the university-wide 'Covid-19 Digital Campus' initiative
• Member of the TU Delft lustrum committee and coordinator of the Accelerator Team for energy transition

As an active industry collaborator, Deborah Nas serves as a sparring partner for senior management teams on future-proofing organizations and is a renowned keynote speaker on innovation and technology at public, corporate, and academic events. Her unique background combining deep academic expertise with extensive industry experience enables her to bridge theory and practice effectively.