Thomas van Arkel

Thomas van Arkel is a researcher at the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, focusing on how design practices can drive institutional transformation in public organizations. He is affiliated with the Human-Centered Design department, specifically the Society, Culture and Critique research group.

His research integrates

• Social Practice Theory
• Institutional Theory
• Design Methodology

to bridge design's theoretical potential with practical implementation challenges in neoliberal welfare systems. Key themes include balancing structural reproduction and innovation, cross-context intervention translation, and normative change in public institutions.

Thomas has received the NSV-VBO Prize for Policy Research 2024 for his work on design-policy intersections. His publications emphasize

• Emergent design practices
• Resilience in reintegration
• Collaborative tensions in safety-creative sector partnerships

He holds a BSc and MSc in Industrial Design from TU Delft and previously collaborated with Dutch creative industry organizations like CLICKNL and Dutch Design Foundation.