DapLab Current

Research Assistant (Design)

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My experience bridging UX design and academic research at an HCI lab

Design Preview

A detailed breakdown of my projects, highlighting the full research cycle from initial discovery to prototyping physical learning tools.

DAP Lab design work preview 1

Understanding the Problem and Research Project "Smart Playground"

Kicked off the project by conducting foundational user research to understand student and instructor needs within collaborative learning environments. Synthesized insights from interviews and literature reviews to define the core problem space.

DAP Lab design work preview 2

Cross-Institutional Collaboration & Design Development

As part of a multi-institutional team, I collaborated closely with members from Boston College and Tufts University to refine design concepts. We developed and deployed an initial prototype, conducting a key playtest session with students at the Anaheim School District to gather early, real-world feedback.

DAP Lab design work preview 3

Tangible Design & UX Research

The lab and the cross-functional team focus on developing "stuffies" (smart plush toys) as tangible user interfaces. My work will involve leading the user-centered design of these physical products, defining their interactions, and conducting specific user research to see how students engage with them, directly linking our findings to the next iteration of the product's design.

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