Bram’s focus: from design to healthcare
"I wanted more depth, but not a purely academic path."
After completing his bachelor’s in Communication & Multimedia Design (CMD), Bram Brouwers (23) wanted to specialise further. “CMD is a broad programme: you learn everything about design and communication, from video and web design to audio and photography. During my graduation project, I discovered how interesting and relevant the healthcare sector is.”
Why Health by Design?
“And that is exactly what appealed to me about the master’s in Health by Design: as a designer, you learn to contribute to innovation in healthcare. You conduct research through design and don’t just deliver an advisory report, but concrete products and practical interventions. That creative, tangible aspect really attracted me. Moreover, it was the perfect combination of theory and practice for me: I wanted more depth, but not a purely academic path.”
A professionally oriented master’s that fits
“When I started exploring my options, I discovered that a university of applied sciences master’s was exactly what I was looking for. A research university master’s felt too theoretical and didn’t align as well with my background. In CMD, I learned the fundamentals as a designer, which I am now building upon. It was also a bonus that I could stay at Avans. Everything remained familiar, from my OneDrive and Brightspace to the way of working. That made the transition really smooth."
Pioneering and gaining practical experience
“The first year was also the first year of the programme itself, so we were pioneers. That required some flexibility, but it also offered room to contribute ideas and have an influence. That independence will definitely be useful in the professional field later on. I want to use my design skills within mental healthcare: it would be great if I could help reduce workload and improve collaboration.”