Research
I am a participatory design researcher, design ethnographer and prototyping expert. I conduct my research full-time with a scholarship from the Elsa-Neumann-Stiftung.
Since 2022, I have pursued my doctorate at Humboldt University Berlin, currently in the PhD program of the excellence cluster »Matters of Activity«, supervised by Prof. Dr. Claudia Mareis (HU Berlin) and Prof. Dr. Frank Heidmann (FHP).
Insights from Recent Research Projects
From 2018 to 2022 I was part of the Interaction Design Lab (IDL) at University of Applied Sciences Potsdam as a research associate.
PROTOTYP – materiell Zukünfte entwerfen
A research project at the intersection of Design and Sociology with Jordi Tost and Prof. Dr. Frank Heidmann in cooperation with TU München, JGU Mainz and Deutsches Museum.
DISA – Co-designing with People Suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder
A research project at the intersection of Design, Information Studies and Social Work, with Jordi Tost, Rahel Flechtner, Leyla Dewitz, Rahel Maué, Prof. Dr. Judith Ackermann and Prof. Dr. Frank Heidmann.
Engagement in Design Research and Design Schools
Design Promoviert
Since 2021, I have been actively involved in organizing the biennial dgtf »Design Promoviert« colloquium (https://design-promoviert.dgtf.de/), with which we tour design schools in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. I am driven by the lack of academic preparation within design education for pursuing a PhD. Through academic exchange and community-building, we aim to support one another during the doctoral journey. By reflecting on our approaches, we also seek to strengthen the methodological foundations of research through design. My roles include organizing the review process, shaping workshop formats, and moderating the colloquium. This work also involves pro bono consulting for students interested in pursuing a PhD in Design. My most recent contribution is the development of an extensive "conduct of care," created and iterated together with the PhD students at the HTW Dresden colloquium 2025.
Bachelor Kolleg
In 2019, at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam, I founded the »Bachelor-Kolleg«, a supportive structure to prepare students for their B.A. thesis. It includes an introduction to academic writing and continues to exist today. The long process of establishing this structure was prompted by the alarming observation of how many design students struggle with mental health challenges while feeling unprepared to write their B.A. thesis.
Throughout my academic path, I have been deeply inspired by Prof. Monika Hoinkis, who passed away at a very young age. She was a significant female role model in pursuing a PhD in Design and an empathetic, passionate lecturer for me and many others at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam.