I’m a 4th-year PhD candidate in Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) at the University of Washington, advised by Mark Zachry, PhD. My research explores human-centered AI + design innovation, investigating how designers envision, reflect on, and negotiate human and societal values in early-stage AI concept development. I study and design mechanisms that support value-oriented design in the age of AI, ultimately aiming to create empirical, practical, and human-centered responses/approaches that empower designers and AI product teams to design more responsibly and imaginatively.

Currently, my projects focus on: (1) envisioning practices of AI concepts with AI; (2) creating a value-focused toolkit to support AI concept reflection; and (3) developing design principles for preventing harmful applications in AI concept development. My work bridges qualitative, quantitative, and design research methods to uncover insights that inform human-centered AI design strategies. My thinking is broadly shaped by questions around design for/with AI, value sensitive design, and materiality.

Before my current PhD work, I led user research on AR interfaces and interactions, examining how AR headsets, systems UI, avatars, and filters shape mediated experience. I hold a B.S. in Human Factors Psychology from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where I worked with Barbara S. Chaparro, PhD in the RUX Lab. There, I conducted experiments on AR usability and UX, and collaborated with a Top Fortune 10 tech company to evaluate perceived comfort with smart product materials and validate a toolkit for assessing product design impressions.

I’m actively seeking Summer 2026 internship opportunities – please reach out if you’d like to collaborate 🖤

Recent News

04/2025, passed my general exam - now a Ph.D. candidate!
03/2024, received an M.S. in HCDE (concurrent with Ph.D.)
11/2023, presented and passed my preliminary exam
10/2022, presented 2 posters at the 66th HFES annual conference
09/2022, started my Ph.D. in HCDE at the University of Washington

↓ Check out my amazing friends below

(inspired by Keri Mallari)

↗ Donghoon Shin
↗ Aayushi Dangol
↗ Soobin Cho