The department of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) is internationally known for its cutting-edge research. As part of a major research (R1) university, HCDE students and faculty collaborate across disciplines, across campus, and externally, to magnify the breadth and potential impact of our discoveries.
Research Areas
Faculty and students in HCDE advance the study and practice of design to improve cognition, behavior, engagement, or participation among individuals, groups, organizations, and communities of people. Our faculty's research and teaching focus on six interrelated areas of study. See HCDE research areas »
Directed Research Groups
HCDE's Directed Research Groups offer students a wide range of opportunities to conduct hands-on research projects with faculty members and other students across degree programs. The department's very active and growing research agenda continually generates new projects and new opportunities for students to be partners in our research endeavors. See current Directed Research Groups »
Research Labs & Centers
From experimental studies of communication design variables to cultural studies of technology adoption in developing nations, HCDE's research labs and centers lead the way in broadening the knowledge base of the field. See all research labs and centers »
Become a Research Sponsor
Research sponsors work with the department to select a faculty partner and decide a topic for a Directed Research Group. Proposing a research topic requires a high level of involvement from the sponsor, and provides a high level of interaction with students and faculty. Learn how to become a research sponsor »
See Also
- Dissertations from HCDE PhD graduates
- DUB: The University of Washington also hosts an interdisciplinary consortium (known as DUB) of faculty and students from across the university who are exploring Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Design in their work.
Recent research news
HCDE COVID-19 research
Five projects led by HCDE researchers are studying the pandemic's impact on remote work, technology and family life, decision-making, regional patterns, and the effect of misinformation online.
Educational Technologies
HCDE and iSchool faculty collaborate on new network to improve educational technologies for children, supported by $11 million from the Jacobs Foundation
Disinformation research
The UW's Center for an Informed Public receives $2.25 million award from the National Science Foundation to study ways to apply collaborative, rapid-response research to mitigate online disinformation.