RESEARCH
Overview
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My research addresses the increasing need for human-centered design innovation by developing frameworks that integrate theory and methods from design, human factors, and systems engineering. These frameworks ultimately focus on optimizing human well-being and system performance.
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I am interested in developing early-stage design strategies to advance transformative design theory and methods, driving sustainable and desirable change in product/system design and development. My research efforts have been supported by federal and state agencies.
Technical Areas of Expertise
I actively research, publish, and teach in the following fields and related areas.
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​Design Theory & Methods
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Human-Centered Design​
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Product Design and Development​
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AI and Generative Design
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Early Stage Design
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Prototyping​​​
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​Human Factors Engineering
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Digital Human Modeling​
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Biomechanics and Ergonomics
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Engineering Anthropometry
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Vehicle Ergonomics
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Industrial Design
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​Systems Thinking & Engineering​​​​
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Human-System Integration​
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​Functional Modeling
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Education and Learning
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Safety Engineering
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Sustainability
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Human Well-Being and System Performance
My research helps solve problems that require understanding the interactions among humans and other system elements. It leverages principles and methods from multiple disciplines—such as artificial intelligence, digital twins, anthropometry, mixed reality, collaborative design, functional modeling, industrial design, and prototyping—to create design frameworks that optimize human well-being and system performance.
Below is additional information about my ongoing research in each technical area. You can also visit the Projects page to explore selected projects.
Early-Stage Approach
I am interested in early-stage design and development strategies, emphasizing the processing, synthesizing, and communicating design information to support critical decisions in problem exploration, concept generation, evaluation, and prototyping.
I utilize emerging technologies—such as digital manikins, immersive environments, motion capture systems, eye trackers, driving simulators, and sensors—to conduct empirical and computational human-subject experiments. The figure below outlines some of the creative and analytical techniques that I use in my research to tackle transdisciplinary problems.
Support
My work is supported by collaborative grants from federal and state agencies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center Research and Development (OMIC R&D), and Oregon State University (OSU).
