Andes Johanna Wouters, Care and wellbeing researcher

Andes Wouters is a creative interior and product designer and a Master's student in Product Design at LUCA School of Arts, with a strong focus on care, well-being and inclusion. Values such as solidarity, responsibility and independence form the foundation of her design vision and collaborative approach. Her experience as a Scout leader and her work with special education have strengthened her interest in supporting children and young people. In her work, she strives to balance functionality with a warm and welcoming experience, taking into account both the care context and the user experience.

During her Master's thesis, she developed Zelf Onderweg, a design created in collaboration with its target group through an inclusive design strategy. Her research explored how young people could gain greater independence in their daily lives at school. The project resulted in three products: a bag hook for carrying a schoolbag, a holder for folders and a tray that promotes greater independence during mealtimes. Her thesis was nominated for the Wanatoe Prize, where it was selected as a finalist.

Andes is currently continuing this project as a researcher within the Care and Wellbeing research domain at LUCA School of Arts, campus C-mine. She explores how Zelf Onderweg can be adapted for a wider range of walking aids, as well as used independently of them. Through design experiments and participatory research, she investigates solutions that allow the design to adapt to different users and contexts. Her work focuses on usability, flexibility and independence, aiming to create a design that not only offers practical support but also promotes inclusion and personal expression.