Need typology

Discover the thirteen fundamental human needs

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Delft Institute of Positive Design

The Need typology is an initiative of the Delft Institute of Positive Design (Delft University of Technology). The Delft Institute of Positive Design seeks to advance our understanding of how design can foster human happiness. We develop tools that designers and organizations can use to tap into the vast potential of lasting wellbeing. On our website, you will find more tools, a rich library of open-access research and specific usage guidelines for applying emotion knowledge in design innovation processes (e.g., for products and services). Visit the DIOPD website.

Terms of use

The Need typology is published under an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Creative Commons licence (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). This means that you are free to share the website for non-commercial purposes as long as you give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and do not modify the original material. Click here to see the details of the license.

Reference

In communication, please refer to this publication as follows: Fokkinga, S.F., & Desmet, P.M.A. (2025). Need Typology. Delft, Delft University of Technology. https://needtypology.com

Need Typology was created by

Concept, Research, and Production

  • Pieter Desmet – Delft University of Technology
  • Steven Fokkinga – Emotion Studio

Desert Island Cartoons

Markus Eberhard - Markilus

Videos

Steven Fokkinga – Emotion Studio

Website

Steven Fokkinga – Emotion Studio

Funding

The development of the Need typology was supported by The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), as part of the VICI grant number 453-16-009 (awarded to Pieter Desmet).