Human-Centered Design Lab
We conduct research at the intersection of human-computer interaction (HCI) and software engineering (SE). Our projects span a diverse range of topics and methods, yet are foundamentally driven by our collective interests in emerging technologies like AI and mixed reality, the connection between work and play, and the sociotechnical questions they raise.
- Diversity: Individual's unique perspectives and how they shape the work.
- Responsibility: Taking ownership, honoring commitments, and upholding integrity.
- Audacity: Embracing bold ideas and not being afraid to make mistakes.
- Flexibility: A drive to learn, question, and continuously improve
- Teamwork: Working together with care and respect
Our Team
Meet our researchers and students
Jinghui Cheng
Associate Professor, Canada Research Chair in UX Design for Data-Driven Systems
Jazlyn Hellman
Ph.D. Student
Aylar Akbari
M.Sc. Student
Featured Publications
Our latest research contributions
'Ohhh, he's the boss!': Unpacking Power Dynamics Among Developers, Designers, and End-Users in FLOSS Usability
Jazlyn Hellman , Itai Epstein , Jinghui Cheng , Jin L.C. Guo
Proc. ACM Hum.-Comput. Interact.
Democratizing Game Modding with GenAI: A Case Study of StarCharM, a Stardew Valley Character Maker
Hamid Zand Miralvand , Mohammad Ronagh Nikghalb , Mohammad Darandeh , Abidullah Khan , Ian Arawjo , Jinghui Cheng
Proc. ACM Hum.-Comput. Interact.
Interrogating AI: Characterizing Emergent Playful Interactions with ChatGPT
Mohammad Ronagh Nikghalb , Jinghui Cheng
Proc. ACM Hum.-Comput. Interact.
Beyond Automation: How Designers Perceive AI as a Creative Partner in the Divergent Thinking Stages of UI/UX Design
Abidullah Khan , Atefeh Shokrizadeh , Jinghui Cheng
Proceedings of the 2025 CHI conference on human factors in computing systems
Dancing With Chains: Ideating Under Constraints With UIDEC in UI/UX Design
Atefeh Shokrizadeh , Boniface Bahati Tadjuidje , Shivam Kumar , Sohan Kamble , Jinghui Cheng
Proceedings of the 2025 CHI conference on human factors in computing systems
Join the HCD Lab
We're looking for motivated PhD students, master's students, and research interns to join our team. If you're interested, please email the following to Prof. Jinghui Cheng:
(1) your CV/resume, (2) a cover letter motivating your interests, and (3) any writing samples and/or your portfolio.