Prof. ir. Nas, D.N.

Deborah Nas is Professor of Strategic Design for Technology-based innovation at the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering.

Deborah graduated from the faculty of Industrial Design Engineering at the Delft University of Technology in 1996. After kick-starting her career at Philips and KPN, she co-founded and managed a strategic innovation agency for 16 years. Deborah worked with global and local brands on implementing new innovation processes and driving innovation forward. She currently acts as a sparring partner for senior management teams on future-proofing their organization. She is also a renowned keynote speaker on innovation and technology at public, corporate and academic events.

Deborah acts at the crossroads of Technology, Business, and Psychology. She is fascinated by consumer behaviour and why people embrace or reject technological innovations. And how, throughout history, the same arguments have been used over and over again to express fears and concerns regarding new technologies. She recently developed a set of design strategies that enable students and design professionals to apply new technologies in a way that delivers maximum value to users, resulting in higher adoption rates.

At Industrial Design Engineering, Deborah is involved in different courses, teaching students strategic design and technology-based innovation. She is also closely involved in the development of the faculty's new bachelor program.

Deborah is a driving force in various university-wide initiatives like vision teams on the societal impact of quantum technologies and innovation projects on mobility and student well-being.

• 1990–1996
  MSc Industrial Design Engineering with honors, Delft University of Technology

• 2019-present
  Member of the supervisory board at Hardt Hyperloop, Europe’s leading hyperloop development company
• 2019-present
  Member of the advisory board at Bright River, a digital scaleup
• 2018-present
  Keynote speaker and C-level sparring partner on technology & innovation
• 2015-present
  Professor of Strategic design for technology-based innovation at the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, TU Delft
• 2014–present
  Board member Cre8, a social venture in 3D printing and urban manufacturing
• 2002–2018
  Founder and managing director of Sunidee, a strategic innovation agency
• 1997–2002
  Multiple positions at KPN: international consultant, business development manager, product manager
• 1996–1997
  New product developer, Philips Research

• Strategic design and technology-based innovation
• Technology adoption and resistance
• The societal impact of new technologies

•  Coordinator of the university-wide initiative 'Covid-19 Digital Campus'. 23 scientists from 4 faculties work together with university services to realise concepts supporting the 1.5m campus and student well-being. Projects within this initiative vary from dashboards to monitor crowds and traffic flows to chatbots measuring student well-being.