News

Fri, 10/01/2021

On September 28, 2021, HCDE welcomed recruiting and UX professionals from Google, Blink, Microsoft, and Wyze, for a panel discussion about UX interviews.

Fri, 09/17/2021

HCDE Professor Cecilia Aragon has received a new grant from the National Science Foundation aimed at diversifying human-centered data science through the research and design of ethical games. Over the course of two years, Aragon and her collaborators with the University of North Texas and UW's eScience Institute will study the learning experiences of a diverse group of undergraduates as the students research, design, and build a simulation game that teaches ethical thinking in data science and artificial intelligence.

Thu, 09/16/2021 | UW News

A new study led by HCDE alumni looked at if chatting with Alexa or Siri affects the way children communicate with their fellow humans. Probably not, the researchers found, noting that children are sensitive to context when it comes to these conversations. HCDE alumni who co-authored the study include Alexis Hiniker (PhD '17), Amelia Wang (BS '20), Jonathan Tran (BS '19), Kiley Sobel (PhD '18), and Sunsoo Ray Hong (PhD '18).

Mon, 09/13/2021

HCDE Professor Julie Kientz is the University of Washington lead on a newly-created network to tailor digital technologies for children, made possible by a recent $11 million grant to the University of California, Irvine, from the Jacobs Foundation. UW collaborators with Kientz include Information School Professors Jason Yip and Alexis Hiniker.

Wed, 09/01/2021

In a new paper in the journal Energy Research & Social Science, HCDE researchers Shana Hirsch and David Ribes discuss how HCDE research can be applied to issues of climate change, mitigation, and transitioning to a green energy future.

Tue, 08/31/2021

In a new summer program led by HCDE Assistant Professor Sucheta Ghoshal and collaborator J. Khadijah Abdurahaman, students from around the world explored designing tools and techniques for counter-fascism. The program was oriented around learning from social movements and community organizations that are fighting repression, violence, and extraction—particularly in the context of India, Tigray, Oromia, and the Black US South. In this article, Ghoshal describes how the program came to be and outcomes from the 2021 cohort.

Wed, 08/18/2021

A team including HCDE researchers including Rafal Kocielnik, Raina Langevin, Amelia Wang, Alex Argyle, and Gary Hsieh received an honorable mention award at the 2021 Conference for Conversational User Interfaces (CUI 2021) for their paper about understanding preferences for conversational user interfaces in healthcare settings.

Tue, 08/17/2021

The University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public (CIP) announced a new $2.25 million award from the National Science Foundation to study ways to apply collaborative, rapid-response research to mitigate online disinformation.

Thu, 07/08/2021

For their capstone project, HCDE students Sabreen Mohammed, Grace Barar, Nadir Tareen, and Kevin Kuo create Novoloom: a brand of ready-to-sew clothing kits that empower people to create their own custom clothes.

Fri, 07/02/2021

Dr. Sayamindu Dasgupta is an educator, designer, and researcher who studies creative learning technologies for young people, especially in contexts of the communities that they live, learn, and play in. Dasgupta joins the HCDE faculty as an assistant professor, beginning in January 2022.

Fri, 07/02/2021

The UW's Center for an Informed Public announces a $1 million gift from Craig Newmark Philanthropies to support the multidisciplinary research center's rapid-response research of election-related mis- and disinformation. HCDE Associate Professor Kate Starbird is a co-founder of the Center.

Fri, 07/02/2021

HCDE presented the department's annual award, the Mikey Award, to affiliate instructor Dr. Daniella Kim. Dr. Kim received the award at the 2021 Graduation & Awards ceremony on June 9, and had a message for the graduating students. Find the transcript of Dr. Kim's remarks here.

Tue, 06/29/2021

Mary-Colleen Jenkins and Tina Loucks-Jaret, two HCDE Lecturers who teach courses within the Engineering Communication Program, were recognized with award-winning work at the University of Washington's 2021 Teaching and Learning Symposium. Jenkins and Loucks-Jaret presented about using break out rooms to increase student engagement, bias-free and inclusive language for Engineering students, and fostering collaborative teams in online learning.

Thu, 06/24/2021

Since transitioning to emeritus status in 2014, HCDE Professor David K. Farkas has remained an active researcher in the field of technical communication. He recently received the Ken Rainey research award from the Society for Technical Communication for repeatedly demonstrating the ability to make research accessible across academic and industry communities.

Thu, 06/17/2021

An industry audit, customer research, and consultation with transit execs informed the HCDE students' approach.

Thu, 06/17/2021

Julie Zhuo, co-founder of Sundial and author of the bestselling book The Making of a Manager, delivered the 2021 Graduation Address for the University of Washington's Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering. The 2021 ceremony was recorded live on June 9, 2021.

Tue, 06/15/2021

HCDE Professor David Ribes and PhD student Will Sutherland are co-authors on a new paper: Ten simple rules to Cultivate Transdisciplinary Collaboration in Data Science. The paper, published in the PLOS Computational Biology journal, highlights facilitating collaboration, but not replacing the societal function of successful research.

Fri, 06/11/2021

The College of Engineering annually acknowledges the extraordinary efforts of the college’s teaching and research assistants, staff and faculty members with awards. In 2021, a new awards category was added for faculty and staff who demonstrated outstanding work during the challenging year of remote operations. Both Kate Starbird, HCDE associate professor, and Leah Pistorius, HCDE communications manager, received awards in the outstanding category.

Thu, 06/10/2021

With the 2021 HCDE Student Awards of Excellence, HCDE faculty recognize graduate students Jazz Ang, Shelby Zink, Lucas Colusso, Arpita, Honson Ling, Ethel Xu, Patriya Wiesmann, Xuan Song, Shelby Zink, Taylor Honda, Jay Cunningham, Susanne Kirchner, Neilly Herrera Tan, and undergraduate students Kay Waller, Kari Bergstedt, Jordan Yoon-Buck, Lexi Leo Rohrer, and Vishaka Nirmal. The annual awards honor students who have distinguished themselves by demonstrating greatness in academic excellence, leadership and engagement, and innovation.

Thu, 06/10/2021

Nadya Peek's digital fabrication course relies on in-person instruction in a makerspace where students can access 3D printers. When the pandemic made that impossible, Professor Peek developed a new curriculum that helped students master computer-aided design and 3D printing skills from home.

Tue, 06/01/2021

The Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering is presenting the 2021 Mikey Award to Dr. Daniella Kim, UX research leader and an affiliate instructor in HCDE. The Myron L. White Award, or the "Mikey Award," is named after the co-founder of the department. It is presented annually by HCDE faculty to leaders in the field and dedicated friends of the department. 

Mon, 05/24/2021

The Husky 100 annually recognizes 100 UW undergraduate and graduate students from Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma in all areas of study who are making the most of their time at the UW. Husky 100 students are making a difference on campus, in their communities, and for the future through their passion, leadership, and commitment.

Tue, 05/11/2021

In HCDE's course on usability studies, a student team led a study of Washington State residents to understand reactions to and experiences with the Washington State Exposure Notifications Tool. 

Tue, 05/11/2021

HCDE assistant professor Nadya Peek is the principal investigator on a new project supported by the Moore Foundation to develop modular, low-cost tools for scientific exploration.

Thu, 05/06/2021

On the “Women in Data Science” podcast, HCDE Professor Cecilia Aragon explains how overcoming her fears to become an aerobatic pilot propelled her forward in her career as a data scientist, professor and author.