About us - 8D Games

Design as a bridge between theory and practice

8D supports researchers in every design-oriented and co-creative aspect of their work. This includes contributing to design-focused research proposals, facilitating co-creation sessions, creating creative interventions of all types and sizes, developing and executing test protocols, and assisting with the implementation and sustainability of project outcomes.

Our core values

We are connectors

We like to connect people, ideas, theory, practice and everything in between. Thus, from our experience with serious game development, we started thinking in ever broader solution forms. Especially now that AI is developing at lightning speed and the creation process is becoming increasingly efficient. This makes it all the more important to make the right thing for the target group – and to think about strategies for implementation and safeguarding already during the design process.

We are content-driven

We fight for meaningful use of public money. One example: we were asked to develop a VR training course for healthcare workers. However, contact with the target group already showed that the professionals did not want or could not work with this at all. So we pitched a card game – a form that did match the target group’s needs. We lost the assignment, but we consciously took that risk. After all, we only want to make things we believe in.

We are adventurers

Rapidly and fearlessly testing assumptions is a key part of design thinking. We excel at visualizing ideas and rapid prototyping, enabling you to test results with your target group quickly and pragmatically. This saves both time and money. And no, we don’t mind being the ones boldly proposing and testing ideas that may seem destined to fail—because sometimes that’s exactly what it takes to move the project forward.

“We werken samen aan power-ups voor de speler; een positieve verandering voor het leven. Dat geeft mij veel energie en zorgt ervoor dat ik na een werkdag met een goed gevoel naar huis ga.”

Stephan Burghout

Product Owner bij 8D Games

Working at

In 2014, 8D Games started as a two-man company. Our team now consists of 12 permanent employees. We hardly know any turnover, but growth does. Would you also like to work on games with impact within a close-knit, friendly team? Keep an eye on our vacancy page.

Vacatures

Why we have a game designer, a therapist and a historian on our team

The strength of co-creation comes from blending different perspectives, and we embrace that fully within our team. Take Maarten, for example—he spent thirteen years as a creative therapist, giving him unparalleled insight into human behavior. Bas is an experienced game designer who’s now pursuing a master’s in education. Johan began his career as a programmer but has since specialized in design thinking and implementation. Giel once worked as a graphic designer until his exceptional design research skills took the lead. Nicole, a historian by training, has an knack for distilling vast amounts of information into clear, essential insights. Sven started with us as an online marketer but now manages all our contacts within European research consortia and masters the most complex research topics. Stephan began as a project manager and also learned to design behavior. Edwin is not just a character artist; he’s also a skilled visual creator, excelling in fields like science communication.

Maarten Stevens

CEO

Mail Maarten

Johan van der Meulen

Innovation Director

Mail Johan

Giel Hekkert

Creative director

Mail Giel

Nicole van den Berg

Communicatieadviseur

Mail Nicole

Stephan Burghout

Product Owner

Mail Stephan

Bas Altenburg

Product Owner & Game Designer

Mail Bas

Sven Snoek

Marketeer & Accountmanager Europa

Mail Sven

Thomas Huijser

Junior Product Owner

Mail Thomas

Edwin ten Wolde

Concept Artist

Mail Edwin

Are you our new super hero?

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Bonus! Discover interesting blogs

Co-creation in research: insights and outcomes

What academic and social impacts can a design-driven, co-creative approach offer researchers? This article explores this question through a concrete example from our portfolio. Collaborating with researcher and biomedical scientist Lise Beumeler, we created a VR game designed to support recovery after an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. This development was part of her PhD project, and follow-up research with the prototype recently led to a new publication, making it an opportune moment to reflect on its outcomes.

What is social design and why is it relevant for researchers?

Social design is a philosophy that translates academic knowledge into practical, usable solutions with societal impact. It bridges the gap between research and practice through co-creation, context-driven design, and sustainable implementation. Read our blog to explore the characteristics and benefits of social design—and why this mindset is so essential for researchers.

Examples of social design in research

Social design is a practical way to tackle societal challenges by working closely with stakeholders. It not only delivers solutions but also provides researchers with new insights and valuable data. With ten years of experience, 8D helps researchers achieve clear results through co-creation and iteration. This blog shares three inspiring examples of social design in research from our portfolio.

Choose your gaming style:

Serious games for research

Serious Games as a Research Tool Games as a Method Serious games can contribute to scientific research in many different ways and at many different stages. Think of collecting quantitative…