Hello, I’m Daeun Yoo

✨ HCI Researcher / Designer

I'm a PhD student at the University of Washington (Information Science / HCI) and a former UX researcher and designer at Samsung and BCG.

My research focuses on creating human-centered AI technologies that enhance psychological well-being through creative learning and user-centered design. I believe the creative process can help people stay resilient and connected with loved ones.

During my master’s at Harvard, I developed 'Mind Palette,' an AI-assisted drawing tool for mental well-being, which I presented at UNESCO, showing its value in improving emotional regulation. Prior to that, I spent 3.5 years at Samsung designing cross-platform, multi-modality solutions, including SmartThings (500M+ downloads) and e-commerce systems.

Linkedin | CV | Google Scholar | daeunyoo@uw.edu

Education

  • University of Washington

    Ph.D., Information Science

    Advisors: Professors Katie Davis & Jason C. Yip

  • Harvard University, Master in Design Engineering ‘24

    - AI Leaders at Harvard

    - Harvard AR/VR club (HAR/VRD)

    - Teaching Fellow for Science of Behavioral Change (MLD 304)

    - Harvard Behavior Insights Student Group (BISG)

  • MIT, cross-registered

    - Generative AI for K-12 education

    - Affective computing

    - AI for Impact

    - AI for mental health

  • Korea University

    - Major in Information & Industrial Design

    - Minor in Business Administration (Mar 2013~Feb 2019)

Work Experience

  • Seattle Children’s, Research Assistant

    Research collaborative decision-making among youth, parents, and clinicians through an interdisciplinary collaboration with Pediatrics. (2025.01-Present)

  • Harvard University, HCI researcher

    Conducted research under Professor Elena Glassman in the Harvard Computer Science Department. Planned and led HCI research on mental well-being in CMC communication and creative expression. (2024.06-09)

  • Boston Consulting Group, Experience Design Intern

    Consulted with a top 3 healthcare company in the US, simplifying complex information systems through cross-functional collaboration with business consultants and engineers. Considered both business requirements and operations. (2023.06-08)

  • Samsung Electronics, Full-time UX Researcher, Designer, CEO Advisor

    Full-time UX Designer. Led the CEO advisory team, Designed and researched the end-to-end user experience of 'SmartThings (IoT)' and 'Family Account' apps for both Android and iOS, based on data analytics. (Accumulated Downloads: 500 million.) (2020~2022)

  • MIT CSAIL, HCI Researcher at App Inventor Team

    Researched for MIT CSAIL's (Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab) visual programming educational tool, empowering students to construct fully functional apps through block and visual coding. Used by 18.1 million users from 195 countries. (2023)

  • Korea Institute of Design Promotion, UX design mentor & Lecturer (2021-2022)

  • Korea Creative Content Agency, UX design mentor & Lecturer (2021-2022)

  • Samsung Design Membership, UX lead, product designer, leadership (2016-2018)

  • Korea University UX Lab, UX researcher, interaction designer (2016-2018)

  • Enactus, Korea University, President (2016)

  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea, Volunteer Designer (2016)

  • Freelance UX/UI/branding designer (2015-2016)

Paper & Patent

Awards & Honor

  • 2023 Presented at UNESCO Digital Learning Weeks

  • 2023 MIT Ignite: Generative AI Entrepreneurship Competition, MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab — $15,000 grant

  • 2023 ACII (Affective Computing and Intelligence Interaction)

  • 2022 Creative Arts Competition (emote) — Top 10

  • 2022 IF Design Award, UX lead (Routine Builder for Smart Home Automation) — Winner

  • 2022 Fulbright Graduate Student Program Award (self-waived)

  • 2021 IF Design Award (Virtual home for IoT commerce) — Finalist

  • 2021 Good Design Award (Plug and Connect) — Finalist

  • 2018 Hackathon of Vitra x Samsung Design membership — Winner

  • 2018 Best member of UX design, Samsung Design Membership

  • 2018 Adobe Design Achievement Awards — Semifinalist

  • 2017 Capstone Award, Korea University (Bfriend) — 3rd prize

  • 2017 Best team of graduation project, Korea University

  • 2017 Best individual work of graduation project, Korea University

  • 2017 Adobe Design Achievement Awards — Semifinalist

  • 2015 Business Idea Competition, Graduate School of Management of Technology, Korea University — 3rd prize

  • 2015 LG Innovative Personal Device Competition, LG Electronics — 3rd prize

Media