What if you could design with industrial robots, 3D print with bio-based materials, create smart wearables with sensors and AI, or use augmented reality to guide complex assembly processes?

In the Smart Making minor, you turn these possibilities into reality by experimenting and making in real innovation labs.

Smart Making is a creative engineering playground where you explore emerging technologies across multiple AUAS labs, including the Robot Lab, Makers Lab, Sensor Lab, VR & Simulation Lab and Biomaterials Lab. You work with robotic production, digital fabrication, computational design, smart systems, artificial intelligence, mixed reality and new materials.

Together with students from different backgrounds, you develop smart products and innovative systems connected to real-world challenges in smart industry, sustainable design and the future built environment.

The minor starts by inspiring you with technologies, lab setups and real challenges from research and industry. You then choose lab modules and courses that match your interests and growing expertise and apply this knowledge in multidisciplinary final challenges.

You are the owner of your learning journey, while sharing a common technical backbone in computational design and digital manufacturing that connects all technologies into smart solutions.

Smart Making is a creative engineering minor at its core, open to all backgrounds and built for hands-on innovation. It prepares you to become the kind of professional who can design, build and innovate across disciplines using advanced technologies in real-world contexts.

If you love experimenting, making and creating with technology, this minor is for you.

In the Smart Making minor you learn by working on real challenges in lab environments. The core of the minor is the connection between materials, data, design and production. You develop technical skills, creative problem-solving and professional competences that help you turn ideas into smart - working solutions, work confidently in labs, and build your own technical and creative profile.

You will:

1. Explore smart challenges by analysing how materials, digital data and technologies such as robotics, sensors, AI and digital fabrication can be combined.
2. Design concepts and experiments using sketches, 3D models and computational design tools.
3. Build and prototype solutions across multiple labs, improving them through iteration.
4. Work professionally in labs by planning projects and following technical and safety procedures.
5. Develop as a smart maker by collaborating in multidisciplinary teams, documenting your process and reflecting on your growth.

These competences support your next steps towards advanced projects, internships, graduation work and future innovation professional roles.

This minor is open to motivated students who are curious about technology, design and making.

We are looking for students who:

• Want to develop technical skills for design and innovation
• Enjoy hands-on experimentation
• Like working in multidisciplinary teams
• Are proactive, curious and open to learning new technologies and methodologies

No specific technical background is required. What matters most is your motivation and curiosity to experiment and learn. If you already have a technical background, you will be challenged and supported to deepen your skills and expertise.

All main learning materials, tools and resources are provided during the minor, including access to lab equipment, software and online learning resources.

If you want to explore the digital design and smart manufacturing foundations before we start, we recommend:

Arturo Tedeschi, AAD Algorithms-Aided Design: Parametric Strategies Using Grasshopper, Le Penseur Publisher, 2014, ISBN 978-88-95315-30-0

The Smart Making minor runs full-time over one semester and combines fixed community days with flexible lab work.

Each week includes:

• One Foundations day (±6 hours) focused on core skills such as computational design, digital manufacturing and inspiration sessions
• Two lab days (±12 hours total) in chosen labs (minimum 2, maximum 3) to develop technical skills and prototypes
• One Track day (±6 hours) for team challenges, integration and coaching

This adds up to around 24 hours per week on location.

Additionally, you spend 8–12 hours per week on self-directed work, such as design preparation, documentation and reflection, which can be done at home or in the labs.

By working mainly on location, you can collaborate efficiently while keeping space for work and personal life.

The contact time (approximately 16 hours per week) consists of foundations workshops, hands-on lab sessions, challenge studios, coaching moments, guest lectures and excursions.

Contact moments take place on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

One day per week is reserved for independent project work and self-study.

Additional coaching, feedback, team meetings and online communication take place as needed.

Smart Making consists of 30 ECTS over one semester and is built around challenge-based learning in lab environments.

Smart Making Foundations (10 ECTS)

You build core skills in computational design, digital manufacturing, robotics, materials and smart technologies, forming the technical backbone of the minor.

Multi-Lab Challenge Tracks (15 ECTS)

You work in multidisciplinary teams on real challenges connected to research and industry. Each challenge follows a learning cycle; explore → design → build → test → improve, where you design and prototype smart products and systems using different lab technologies.

Professional Development & Showcase (5 ECTS)

You work on your learning goals, expert skill development, teamwork, documentation and reflection to build your professional profile.

Assessment approach

Smart Making uses programmatic assessment. This means you receive continuous feedback throughout the semester on your skills, projects and development.

Assessment includes:

• Prototypes and project outcomes
• Lab skill demonstrations
• Process documentation (lab journals)
• Presentations, reflections and teamwork

Your final result is based on your overall growth, technical progress and contributions across the challenges.

Resits:

Due to the challenge-based learning approach and programmatic assessment, you continuously receive feedback on your progress throughout the minor. This means you always know where you stand and what you need to improve, well before the end of the semester.

By actively participating, making, documenting your process and presenting your work, students are supported to successfully complete the minor within the planned 20 weeks.

The final week of the minor is reserved for improvements and finishing touches if you want to boost your results or need extra time.

The programme is designed to be completed in one semester, with no additional resit period needed.

Questions about the minor?
Contact: Marco Galli, m.r.galli@hva.nl
Dione Leeger, d.leeger@hva.nl

Questions about the Kies op Maat-procedure?
Contact: Monique Ax-Bervoets, Christian van Dokkum  minoren-techniek@hva.nl

​Material cost: Material costs, use of lab facilities and local activities are included in the minor. In some cases, we may organise additional experiences such as a field trip outside Amsterdam (for example a multi-day excursion), a visit to an international fair or special industry events that add to the learning experience. If so, an optional additional contribution of approximately €200 - €300 may apply. This will always be discussed in advance and is not mandatory.

Applications will be processed in the order of receipt of signed learning agreements. There are 15 places available for Kies op Maat students.