Message from the Chair

Welcome to the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE). HCDE is an internationally recognized department in the College of Engineering at the University of Washington that focuses its education and research activities on human-computer interaction (HCI), socio-technical systems, user experience (UX) research and design, and engineering education. HCDE students and faculty focus on understanding human needs and interests as they solve engineering design problems and build engineering solutions.

We provide numerous opportunities for students to conduct research with faculty and industry partners. We offer a BS, MS, and PhD in Human Centered Design & Engineering, as well as three certificate programs (i.e., a User-Centered Design Certificate, a Global Technology & Communication Management Certificate, and a Technical Writing and Editing Certificate). We also have a program in Technical Japanese.

When our students graduate, they find employment primarily in the high-tech industry where they design, build, and evaluate user interfaces and applications, websites, software user assistance, and other forms of interaction between users and computers. Graduates of our PhD program take positions at top level universities and in R&D groups in industry. As you will see by browsing our website, our award-winning interdisciplinary faculty and students are changing the world through cutting-edge research that considers the role of technology in human activity.  It is an exciting time to be part of our growing department, and I hope you find our programs and activities to be as inspiring as I do.

Putting people first, we research, design, and engineer interactions between humans and technology.

Join us. Change the world.

Jan Spyridakis
Department Chair
Professor