Lenneke Kuijer

Dr. Lenneke Kuijer is an Assistant Professor in the Designing Quality in Interaction group within the Department of Industrial Design at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). She joined TU/e in 2016 after completing her PhD at Delft University of Technology and a postdoc position at the University of Sheffield. Her work bridges social theory and design practice, focusing on how interactive technologies shape everyday life and energy consumption.

Dr. Kuijer's educational background includes:

• PhD in Industrial Design (Cum Laude) from Delft University of Technology (2014)
• Master in Product Innovation Management from Delft University of Technology (2006)
• Bachelor in Industrial Design Engineering from Delft University of Technology (2006)

Her research focuses on applying social practice theory to design, particularly in the context of sustainable living and energy consumption. She investigates how everyday practices like bathing, heating, and cooling are shaped by technologies and how design can intervene to create more sustainable alternatives. Her work often involves speculative design and design fiction to explore future scenarios, particularly around thermal comfort without excessive energy use.

Analysis of her publication trajectory reveals a progression from foundational theoretical work on social practice theory in design (2009-2013) through empirical studies on bathing and thermal comfort (2011-2018) to recent applied research on smart technologies and summer comfort alternatives (2022-2025). Her research increasingly focuses on developing design methods that account for the complex interplay between technology, practice, and sustainability, with particular attention to climate adaptation in domestic settings.

Her notable recognition includes:

• NWO VENI grant (2019) for 'Anticipating the role of smart technologies in the dynamics of everyday life'

Dr. Kuijer has supervised over 500 students throughout her career with an adaptive coaching style that combines weekly meetings with community building among students. She values deep theoretical grounding developed through hands-on making and experimentation. She has secured multiple research grants, including the NWO VENI project and the 'Just Prepare' project focused on energy transitions in underprivileged neighborhoods. Her research connects design with social science perspectives to develop methods for designing sustainable technologies that account for the complexity of everyday life.

She leads research within the Future Everyday cluster at TU/e, collaborating with industry partners on projects related to summer comfort alternatives to air conditioning. Her work spans academic publications, media engagement (including multiple Dutch media appearances on sustainable cooling alternatives), and practical design interventions that challenge dominant energy-intensive forms of living.