HCDE at the UW

The University of Washington's Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) was called the Department of Technical Communication until January 2009. The department had it beginnings in the "Program in Technical Communication," started in 1974 by Professors James Souther and Myron White. The program became the Department of Technical Communication (UWTC) in 1989.  HCDE strives to equip its students to be leaders in designing communication solutions to meet human needs.

HCDE students learn to serve as user advocates and employ user-centered design processes and usability research methods to ensure that communication designs meet user needs. They also learn formal research methods that enable them to contribute to the scientific understanding of communication and design processes. Students work with HCDE award-winning faculty in small Research Groups where students work closely with faculty and also often conduct original research.

There's never been a more fast-paced and exciting time to work in the field. The challenge in HCDE is to equip students to be leaders in this revolution, leaders with an eye on the future but a firm footing in the enduring fundamentals of HCDE. We invite you to explore this Web site to learn about the exciting opportunities that we offer prospective students!