News

Mon, 08/11/2025

Each winter, HCDE master’s and certificate students take a deep dive into usability testing and user-centered research in HCDE 517: Usability Studies. These highlights from Professor Sean Munson’s Winter 2025 course showcase five projects where students delivered meaningful insights to industry partners across diverse products and domains.

Mon, 07/21/2025

HCDE Professor and Chair Julie Kientz has been elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences (WSAS), recognized for her award-winning leadership in human-computer interaction and her impactful work advancing health and education technologies. As a WSAS member, she will bring HCDE expertise to support evidence-based policy across Washington state.

Tue, 07/01/2025

HCDE researchers Aayushi Dangol and Julie Kientz, with Jason Yip (iSchool), developed AI Puzzlers to show kids an area where AI systems still typically and blatantly fail: solving certain reasoning puzzles. In the game, users get a chance to solve puzzles by completing patterns of colored blocks. They can then ask various AI chatbots to solve and have the systems explain their solutions — which they nearly always fail to do accurately.

Tue, 06/24/2025

Camryn Soo (HCDE BS '25) spent two years researching the department’s history, tracing its roots in post-war efforts to bring more humanities into engineering education. Through archival research, interviews, and coursework, she uncovered how decades of curricular innovation and cross-disciplinary programs shaped HCDE into what it is today. For Soo, that effort to “rethink engineering” remains a powerful throughline in the department’s identity.

Mon, 06/23/2025

As part of HCDE’s 2025 graduation events, Professor Kate Starbird delivered a special teach-in exploring the foundations and future of human-computer interaction. Starbird traced how the technologies we use every day emerged from federally funded research, and emphasized the continued importance of inclusive, human-centered research. Her talk urged graduates and guests to recognize the role of public investment in shaping technology that serves people.

Fri, 06/13/2025

On June 11, the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering hosted its 2025 Graduation & Awards Ceremony, honoring the achievements of 220 graduates—90 bachelor’s, 127 master’s, and 3 doctoral students.  Find highlights and a recording of the ceremony here.

Fri, 06/13/2025

HCDE presents the 2025 Mikey Award to Dr. James Landay, honoring his lasting support of the department and his role in shaping UW’s HCI community through efforts like launching the DUB group and championing HCDE’s growth.

Tue, 05/27/2025

UW Engineering has launched two new stackable master’s degrees — and HCDE’s Graduate Certificate in User Centered Design is one of the building blocks. These new degrees let you customize your education by stacking interdisciplinary graduate certificates with a hands-on capstone project.

Fri, 05/16/2025

The ALACRITY Center, co-directed by HCDE Professor Sean Munson, is expanding access to quality mental health care by redesigning behavioral interventions to be more effective and accessible to all Americans. The Center collaborates across disciplines to integrate these treatments into primary care clinics, schools, and other community health settings. 

Fri, 05/16/2025

HCDE Assistant Professor Katya Cherukumilli is leading research to study and address issues with drinking water quality in Washington schools. In partnership with state agencies, her students are analyzing water testing data and identifying barriers that prevent schools from accessing and using available remediation funding. By bridging the gap between information and implementation, this work supports healthier school environments and promotes equity across the state.