The University of Washington's Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) prioritizes equity and empathy in the construction of the future. We connect complex methodologies, systems, and technologies to critical needs in everyday life.
HCDE resides in Seattle on the traditional lands of the Coast Salish peoples, the land which touches the shared waters of all tribes and bands within the Suquamish, Tulalip and Muckleshoot nations. We respectfully acknowledge their stewardship of this land throughout the generations.
MISSION
We build possibility. We advance systems and technologies for people and communities to create accessible, sustainable, and prosperous futures.
We create intersections. We thrive at the critical junction of research, education, and community to cultivate equity, access, and opportunity.
VISION
We believe a just future is possible. We will be the leading academic program integrating empathy and collaboration to design and engineer equitable practices, tools, and technologies across the globe.
View our five-year strategic plan
Degree Programs
The Bachelor of Science provides students with user research and design skills, coupled with a solid foundation in math and science.
The Master of Science fosters and advances students' knowledge and skills in the design and evaluation of information products, technologies, and user interfaces.
The Doctor of Philosophy provides unparalleled depth and experience for students interested in studying the conception, design, implementation, usability, and evaluation of technologies for specific audiences or user groups.
The User-Centered Design certificate program provides students with the opportunity to explore a wide range of issues in usability and user-centered design.
Faculty
| Composition | Achievements | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 |
Tenured and tenure-track and research faculty 61% women |
9 |
NSF Early Career Award recipients | ||
8 |
Faculty career teaching professors |
4 |
Jay R. Gould Awards for Excellence in Teaching from the Society for Technical Communication | ||
17 |
Joint or adjunct faculty from other UW departments |
1 |
Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) | ||
31 |
Affiliate faculty from industry and external research and educational institutions |
2 |
MIT Technology Innovator Under 35 Honor | ||
Research Labs & Centers
- Center for Collaborative Systems for Security, Safety, and Regional Resilience (CoSSaR)
- Center for Engineering Learning & Teaching (CELT)
- Communicative Practices in Virtual Workspaces Laboratory
- Computer Supported Collaboration Laboratory (CSC Lab)
- Computing for Healthy Living and Learning Laboratory (CHiLL Lab)
- Data Ecologies Lab (deLAB)
- Emerging Capacities of Mass Participation Laboratory (emCOMP)
- Human-Centered Data Science Laboratory (HDS Lab)
- Inclusive Design Lab
- Inquilab
- Laboratory for Human-Centered Engineering Education
- Laboratory for Influence in SocioTechnical Systems (LISTS)
- Machine Agency
- Prosocial Computing Laboratory
- Tactile and Tactical Design Laboratory (TAT Lab)
More About HCDE
2022 Designing Up
The department of Human Centered Design & Engineering annually publishes Designing Up, a magazine which features news from our faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
HCDE Strategic Plan
The HCDE five-year Strategic Plan, launched in 2019, is designed to align the department around a bold path for the next five years.
Celebrating 30 years
On the 30th anniversary of the department, we review the growth of our programs since Mike White and Jim Souther began teaching technical communication courses in 1974.