Pieter is part of the user empowerment research unit. His research aims at involving targeted users in the various stages of product innovation, ranging from the fuzzy front end of design to the actual user testing of prototypes. The methods he uses include amongst others observation, interviewing, contextual inquiry, ideation techniques, scenario-building, persona development, co-design and prototype evaluation.

Most of his research is situated in health care or education. He has for instance looked into user involvement in new technology for GPs and pharmacists (Electronic Patient record), or home nurses and caretakers (nurse call systems). In education, he previously worked on the design of a teleclass environment. Currently he is working on the projects iRead+ (assistive reading software for 'struggling readers', i.e. children with dyslexia or a hearing impairment), O'CareCloudS (cloud based services in home care) and Telesurgery (the digitalized operating room).

Before joining SMIT in 2009, Pieter worked for several years as a prevention worker at the communications department of Sensoa vzw, the Flemish expert organization on sexual health and HIV. Pieter holds a master degree in Sociology (Ugent, 2003) and Journalism (EhB, 2004).