About – MediaLAB Amsterdam

Applied Research
MediaLAB Amsterdam conducts applied research on innovative interactive media applications together with partners from the creative industries and education. The research projects focus on urban screens, locative media, data visualization, interactive TV, gaming, the future of publishing and e-learning. At their core, the focus of all research projects is the innovative character of the digital applications.

Students
Students work in multidisciplinary teams guided by experts from the industry and the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. These experts are a mix of designers, programmers, social/digital media experts, researchers, copywriters and storytellers. In twenty weeks (one semester) the team develops a working prototype for a client in collaboration them.

The team works four days a week in Studio HvA or at the client’s office. Additionally, the student has one day a week to work individually on the documentation of their internship or graduation project. The program is in English and available to all final year students from (Applied) Universities.

Studio HvA
LAst June MediaLAB moved to a new location: Studio HvA. Together with the Amsterdam Center for Entrepreneurship and Urban Management, MediaLAB Amsterdam will be in the center of the Amstelcampus Amsterdam. Within the studio, MediaLAB Amsterdam will facilitate creative workshops and will involve students in seminars and festivals taking place in the creative industry.

CREATE-IT Applied Research
MediaLAB Amsterdam is a part of CREATE-IT, the applied research centre of the
School of Design & Communication at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.

Download MediaLAB Amsterdam visual guidelines

Staff

We are learners, doers, and teachers. During the last eight years we’ve created a culture that retains the creative tensions that develop between theory and practice, teaching and administration, and students and the field. These are inherent to the diversity of our disciplines. We are impassioned by the challenges these bring, have a heart for our students, and for each other. Don't hesitate to contact us any time.

Gijs Gootjes

Coordinator

Within the MediaLAB I develop design & research projects for young talented creatives. Being involved in Amsterdam’s creative industries gives me the opportunity to work with publishers, broadcasters, ad agencies, museums, startups etc.

Margreet Riphagen

Communication & Coach

For the last ten years I have gained experience in various disciplines of new and interactive media. I hold a bachelor degree in Integrated Communication Management, a post bachelor in Business Science and a master in Information Studies, track Human Centered Multimedia. After working at the Waag Society and Media Guild for more than five years, I now work for the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences since 2008, as a new media expert and a lecturer at CMDA. Also I am involved in the Institute of Network Cultures with various research projects. My motto is keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for stars.

Loes Bogers

Research coach, Maker Culture

My background is in critically engaged electronic arts, and media & cultural studies. I hold a BA in Media & Culture: New Media from the University of Amsterdam and an MA in Interactive Media from Goldsmiths College, London. In recent years I’ve worked as innovator in arts education for youth and worked on projects at the Patching Zone (NL) and Kitchen Budapest (HU). Forget about practice, there’s only do: let’s get our hands dirty.

Marco van Hout

Programme & Design Research lead

I am Programme & Design Research Lead and responsible for the programme (improvement), design methods, research and integration of all of these within the HvA and MediaLAB activities. With a passion for and over 12 years of experience in strategic, digital and UX design. I am a co-founder of SusaGroup (experience-driven design), board member of the Design & Emotion Society, faculty member of IE University in Madrid and an international workshop facilitator and speaker. A father of two and an avid abstract painter.

Tamara Pinos

Tech & Coding

My interests in art and technology motivated me to move to The Netherlands where I have discovered the fun of tinkering, affecting computing and serious games. I hold a BA in Computer Engineering from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador and a MSc in Media Technology from Leiden University. I have experience as a programmer, project manager and dancer.

Felipe Escobar

Interaction Design

I have a background in industrial design, but after studying a postgraduate course in multimedia design I became enthralled with the possibilities that could surface from the mixture of technology and design. This motivated me to pursue a Design for Interaction MSc at TU Delft. I have work experience in UX design and web design, I am interested in cognitive biases, generative art, comic books and the physical/digital aspects of technology.

Pavel van Deutekom

OFFICE MANAGER

I love to work with new stuff and I hold a masters degree in History. Sounds like a big contrast, but I’m at my best in an area where IT, communication, education and innovation meet and intersect. I’m an organiser, always looking to streamline processes and increase overall efficiency. I will also tell you where to eat what in Amsterdam and I’ll cook you a delightful Indonesian ricetable, since both cooking and eating are things I love to waste my time with.

Bernadette Schrandt

Coach

I am a researcher at the Cross media research group with a master degree in Media and Performance Studies. I am specifically interested in embodied experiences, how consumers behave in mediated environments and how their interaction with these media create a meaningful experience to them. My research mainly focuses on cultural experiences.

Joris Hoebe

Storyteller, coach

I am a filmmaker, turned entrepreneur, turned coach at the HVA medialab. I am always looking for new and innovative ways to tell stories and engage audiences. I believe stories have the power to change the world for the better.

Iain Kettles

Developer

I enjoy exploring possibilities with innovative web technologies and how they can be combined to build intelligent systems. I use my passion and experience in programming to assist in the development of current MediaLAB projects.

Sabine Niederer

Head of Create-It

I am the head of the applied research centre CREATE-IT, and a PhD researcher with the Digital Methods Initiative. I also work as a freelance curator and writer in the field of art and new media.