News

Thu, 03/26/2020 | The Daily

Directed Research Groups (DRGs) offer an incredibly unique hands-on research opportunity for UW students and faculty through the human centered design and engineering (HCDE) program. The UW Daily newspaper highlights several of HCDE's current research groups.

Tue, 03/10/2020

HCDE Professor Cecilia Aragon, Director of the Human-Centered Data Science Lab, is also a record-holding aerobatic pilot who has flown with the United States Unlimited Aerobatic Team. Dr. Aragon sits down with KUOW's Bill Radke to discuss her forthcoming memoir, and how she overcame her fears to become one of the best pilots in the world.

Tue, 03/10/2020

On March 3, 2020, HCDE hosted XR Day, a day-long symposium exploring the evolving potential in XR design and technologies. The event was presented by STMicroelectronics, a strategic partner member of HCDE's Corporate Affiliates Program. Review highlights and photos from the event here.

Tue, 02/18/2020

Three years in, Meal Matchup has rescued 1,300 pounds of food from UW dining halls and delivered roughly 1,500 meals to local shelters in need since its first regular deliveries in fall quarter 2018.

Wed, 01/29/2020

Several faculty and PhD students from the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering are selected to present their latest research at this year's ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2020). Find our accepted papers and abstracts here.

Wed, 12/11/2019

HCDE Professor Cynthia Atman published “Design timelines: Concrete and sticky representations of design process expertise,” in November 2019 issue of Design Studies. Atman's article overviews her 25 years of research on design processes. 

Sat, 12/07/2019 | UW iSchool

The Center for an Informed Public officially launched on Dec. 3, 2019, with more than 400 people attending an event on the UW campus. The launch event featured the announcement of a partnership between the UW and Washington State University to join together to battle misinformation.

Tue, 11/26/2019

In a half-day Design Jam sponsored by STMicroelectronics, HCDE students brainstorm, design, and prototype new applications for using XR to solve real-world problems.

Mon, 10/28/2019

The Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering and Microsoft are in the second year of a new partnership designed to pair students with a professional mentor to ease the transition from school to the workforce.

Wed, 10/16/2019

Jing de Jong-Chen, Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, has established an endowed fund to support HCDE in developing new programs related to human-centered security and privacy. 

Tue, 10/15/2019

The annual Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing (CSCW) brings together top researchers and practitioners who study technologies that support collaboration and new ways of living and working together. Several HCDE students, alumni, and faculty are presenting their latest research and discoveries at CSCW 2019 – learn more about these projects here.

Thu, 10/10/2019

The HCDE strategic plan was developed over the past year and a half by a committee of HCDE faculty, staff, and students, with broad input from the community. Our goals represent our commitment to expanding awareness of our research and academic programs, advancing diversity and equity across our work and communities, and ensuring that we maintain a world-class educational experience.

Thu, 10/10/2019

In September 2019, a team of UW students and faculty took a deep dive into experience design in one of the world's most vibrant design capitals, with the Human Centered Design & Engineering Study Abroad in London program. View our recap of the experience here.

Wed, 10/09/2019

"I've always considered myself someone who loves being interdisciplinary, and I felt that HCDE was one of the programs that gave me a chance to still seek an interdisciplinary education," writes Brynn Tweeddale (BS '18). Read more about Brynn's experience in HCDE and her advice for future students in a new alumni Q&A.

Wed, 10/02/2019

HCDE is pleased to announce that Dr. Kristin Dew is joining the faculty as a Lecturer, beginning with the 2019-2020 school year. Dew is a recent graduate of HCDE’s PhD program, where her research focused on ethics and sustainability in technology production practices.

Wed, 09/25/2019

"My capstone project gave me a taste of true product design from a blue sky," writes Dorothy Wong (MS '17). "Seeing the impact we’ve made from that project serves as my main motivation for continuing as a product designer today as well as a guide to what I look for in a design job." Read more about Dorothy's experience in the HCDE master's program in a new alumni Q&A.

Mon, 09/16/2019

HCDE is pleased to announce that Dr. Julie Kientz is stepping into the role of Department Interim Chair, effective September 16, 2019. Dr. Kientz, a Professor in HCDE, is succeeding Dr. David McDonald, who has completed his 5-year term as Chair and is returning to the faculty as a Professor.

Wed, 09/11/2019

"There was always a learning opportunity from peers in each class I took," writes Hannah Nursalim (MS '19). "It truly is a collaborative program, and I enjoyed supporting others and receiving support." Read more about Hannah's experience in the HCDE master's program in a new alumni Q&A.

Fri, 08/30/2019

Watson is among 1,000 students across the country selected by Forbes in recognition of his academic work and leadership experience. Watson will travel to the Under 30 Summit in Detroit, MI, which features industry networking sessions, presentations from A-list speakers, investor speed-pitching, industry-focused field trips, a music festival, and a day of community service.

Tue, 08/27/2019

After earning her Master's in HCDE, Andrea Chin went to work at McGraw Hill Education, where she ensures that the the design of learning experiences are grounded in research and accessible to the broadest range of users.

Fri, 08/23/2019

"Writers in the Secret Garden," a new book by HCDE Professor Cecilia Aragon and Katie Davis, explores the ways in which young people support and learn from each other through participation in online fanfiction communities.

Tue, 08/13/2019 | UW News

Dr. Nancy Allbritton has been named the next Frank & Julie Jungers Dean of the College of Engineering, University of Washington Provost Mark Richards announced. Dr. Allbritton's appointment will start November 1, 2019.

Tue, 08/06/2019 | UW News

In a pilot study led by HCDE Research Scientist Elin Björling, researchers explored art-based mindfulness activities that schools could use to reduce headaches, a common side effect of stress in adolescent girls. After three weeks of twice-weekly mindfulness and art therapy sessions, eight teenage girls reported experiencing significantly fewer headaches.

Fri, 07/26/2019

Josh LaMar (MS '06) is working as a Principal Design Research Manager at Microsoft, leading a team of researchers behind the Outlook platform. Catch up with LaMar as he describes his day-to-day at Microsoft in this video.

Mon, 07/22/2019

Kate Starbird, Assistant Professor of Human Centered Design & Engineering, is a Founding Co-Principal Investigator on a new center at the University of Washington to study the role of information in American democracy and the changing conditions of an informed society