Student prototyping
A student team working on one real question for six months.
Example from BRIX · An example of what the labs can do together, based on the work of the BRIX partners.
Photo: FontysRights held by Fontys · declared by Fontys on 11 September 2026
The question
Organisations have challenges that are too uncertain for a production budget, but too concrete to leave alone. Students from vocational colleges, universities of applied sciences and research universities look for assignments that go beyond an exercise. Can the two meet each other’s needs, without the client being left with half a product?
The approach
Multidisciplinary teams of students from vocational colleges, universities of applied sciences and research universities spend six months on one submitted question. Researchers and an affiliated IX maker guide them. The design process runs in short, iterative cycles, so the client and subject experts can adjust course in time. The outcome is a tangible prototype as a proof of concept. User tests back it up, and an advisory report sets out practical research insights and a conclusion.
The result
- A working prototype, plus substantiated advice on whether to continue or stop.
- Students who have worked with real clients and professional facilities.
- Research insights that become publicly available to the wider network.
- Matchmaking or adoption with IX makers to develop the results further.