PhD candidate at Northumbria University, United Kingdom
Ziwen Zhu is a dynamic academic and designer with expertise in emotional design, human-computer interaction, and sustainable development through digital transformation. As a PhD candidate at Northumbria University, Ziwen has led impactful projects focused on emotion regulation tools and digital service systems for healthcare, collaborating with both academic and industry partners. Alongside his research, he has mentored postgraduate students in design innovation and contributed to grassroots sustainability initiatives. Fluent in Mandarin and English, he combines his cross-cultural and design skills to foster community and well-being in digital experiences.
Publication Profile
scholar
Education 📚
PhD in Industrial Design, Northumbria University, UK (2020-2024) – Thesis: “Design for Individual Emotion Regulations from a Designer’s Perspective,” focusing on smart service systems in healthcare.MA in Design, Northumbria University, UK (2018-2019) – Achieved Merit with coursework in enterprise theory, design thinking, and research.BA in Visual Communication Design, Nanjing Institute of Technology, China (2014-2018) – Graduated with First-class, trained in graphics, branding, and traditional crafts, building a robust foundation in visual communication.
Experience 💼
Academic Assistant, Northumbria University, UK (2023) – Supported professors in project exhibition and book publication on sustainable rural development with AI.Principal Supervisor, Northumbria University Design School (2023) – Guided and evaluated postgraduate design projects in service and product design.Research Assistant, Northumbria University (2022) – Conducted co-creation workshops for the British Academy-funded Net Zero project, engaging local community stakeholders in South Shields.
Awards & Honors 🏆
Newton Prize Support (2019) – Recognized for contributing to “Digital Transformation with AI and Smart Servicing Technologies for Sustainable Rural Development.”Peer Reviewer (2023) – Contributed expertise to the Advanced Design Research Journal, ensuring high standards in design research publications.Leadership in Promotion – As Publicity & Promotions Assistant at Northumbria Students’ Union (2022-2024), Ziwen was integral in campus promotions and events.CSSA President (2021-2022) – Led the Chinese Students and Scholars Association, strengthening cultural community ties at Northumbria University.
Research Focus 🎓
Ziwen’s research spans participatory and human-computer interaction design, emphasizing emotional design, well-being, and sustainable service systems. His projects often integrate AI to create supportive design tools for healthcare and community well-being. His current focus is on designing adaptive emotion regulation tools and user-centered systems, supported by publications in areas like emotional well-being in design and the implementation of co-creation workshops in sustainability projects.
“A Literature Review on Design for Emotion” – Z. Zhu, S. Qin
Published in the 26th International Conference on Automation and Computing (ICAC), 2021, pp. 1-6.
Overview: Provides a comprehensive literature review on emotional design, discussing various design approaches aimed at enhancing user emotional experiences.
“Understanding the Relationships Between Emotion Regulation Strategies and Big Five Personality Traits for Supporting Effective Emotion Regulation Tools/Interventions Design” – Z. Zhu, S. Qin, A. Dodd, M. Conti
Published in Advanced Design Research, Vol. 1, Issue 1, pp. 38-49, 2023.
Overview: Examines how emotion regulation strategies interact with personality traits, offering insights for designing emotion-regulating tools.
“Emotion Regulation Tool Design Principles for Arts and Design University Students” – Z. Zhu, S. Qin, L. Yang, A. Dodd, M. Conti
Published in Procedia CIRP, Vol. 119, pp. 115-120, 2023.
Overview: Proposes design principles for tools aiding emotional regulation, tailored to the needs of university students in creative fields.
“Design of a Team Emotion Forecast Tool for Bettering Individual Emotional Well-Being and Team Performance” – L. Yang, Q. Sheng-feng, Z. Zhu, D. Harrison, W.L. Woo
Published in Procedia CIRP, Vol. 119, pp. 309-314, 2023.
Overview: Introduces a forecasting tool aimed at improving emotional well-being and productivity in team settings.
“Exploring Smart Office Design with Multimodal and Multi-Users Interaction for Workers’ Well-Being and Productivity” – Z. Zhu, L. Yang, S. Qin, C. Ge, K. Xu, W.L. Woo, A. Dodd
To appear in the 29th International Conference on Automation and Computing (ICAC), 2024.
Overview: Investigates smart office design features to boost well-being and productivity, leveraging multimodal and multi-user interactions.
“Challenges in Conducting Co-Creation Workshops to Study Net Zero Understandings, Initiatives, and Sustainable Design Futures with Grassroots Communities – A Case Study” – L. Barron, Z. Zhu, S. Qin
Published in Procedia CIRP, Vol. 128, pp. 674-679, 2024.
Overview: Discusses methodological challenges in co-creation workshops with grassroots communities, focusing on sustainable design and Net Zero goals.
Conclusion
Ziwen Zhu is a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award, with a demonstrated record of impactful research, educational mentorship, and community engagement. Zhu’s work in emotional design, sustainable HCI, and the development of well-being-oriented tools has clear relevance and potential for lasting impact in both academic and applied settings. The award would recognize Zhu’s multifaceted approach to design, integrating emotional well-being, participatory engagement, and digital innovation. Expanding their publication profile and undertaking more lead projects could further solidify their position as an influential researcher in design and user experience fields.