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Professor Key

Autumn 2026

Communicating Design Value: Researching a New HCDE Course on Design Storytelling & Rhetoric

Instructor: Assistant Teaching Professor Key

This DRG supports the development of a proposed HCDE course on design communication and storytelling. As the design/UX landscape shifts, accelerated by AI and a changing job market, doing human-centered work well is no longer enough. Designers also need to contribute broader human-centered value through communication, collaboration, and facilitation in ways that make that value visible.   Students will research one of several pillars (e.g., narrative and rhetorical craft, ethical representation, cross-power communication, facilitation, and translating design work into organizational/business value) through literature review and practitioner interviews, then synthesize findings into concrete session concepts and prototypes (i.e, presentations, activities, exercises, etc.) to be practiced in-class.  

Collective outcome: a set of researched, prototyped session artifacts to inform the course’s structure. Individual outcome: depth in the theory and practice of design communication through research, peer knowledge-sharing across pillars, and in-class testing of session prototypes.  

For PhD students interested in pedagogy please email me to discuss how this might count towards your research requirement.

Enrollment Information

  • Meeting time: Meeting time will be determined based on student availability; Professor Key will confirm by September 15.
  • Credits: 2 credits. If you wish to discuss a different credit load (1–3) based on time commitment, availability, or degree requirements please raise this during the application process. Please register for credits commensurate with your intended effort and learning goals.
    • This DRG does not count toward the research requirement for PhD students.
  • Who should apply: HCDE and non-HCDE BS and MS students interested in design communication, rhetoric, or storytelling. No specific prior research experience required, though comfort with literature review and conducting interviews is a plus. Especially relevant for students interested in design's evolving role in organizations, or in design-adjacent education/curriculum work.
  • Application & deadline: Interested students should complete the very short application form by September 8.
  • Anticipated notification date: Selected students will be notified by September 15.
  • Questions? Please email Professor Key at cayla@uw.edu