From a young age, Derek played his first digital games on a Philips MSX1 VG-8020 and instinctively knew there was more to experience and learn in a game than just entertainment. With a background in Applied Educational Science (MSc, University of Twente), he was instrumental in the creation of the master’s programs in Health Innovation, Serious Gaming, and Design Driven Innovation.
In 2019, Derek defended his dissertation, “Design for Transfer,” in which he connected forgotten educational theories with values from Health and Design through the Game Transfer Model, aiming to challenge the notorious serious gaming oxymoron. The concept of metaphorical recontextualization now forms the basis for several highly successful serious games. Derek is well-versed in design research and the associated discourse. Since 2020, he has been an associate lector of Serious Gaming at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences.