Esther Kang (left) and Qi Yang
The School of Human Ecology announces its first two hires as part of the Wisconsin Research, Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Initiative. Esther Kang and Qi Yang, both incoming assistant professors in the Design Studies department, will bring a human-centered approach to design and technology as UW–Madison pursues new, safe and ethical applications for artificial intelligence (AI).
In February 2024, Dean Soyeon Shim announced Human Ecology was joining other UW–Madison schools and colleges in leading a campus-wide effort to tackle some of the greatest research challenges of our time, starting with AI. The school’s commitment to improving the lives of children, families, consumers and communities will be a vital perspective.
The field of AI is filled with extraordinary possibilities for improving human well-being, but it carries with it a set of risks that require thoughtful attention to ethics and security. The research of scholars like Esther Kang and Qi Yang demonstrates that AI and other technologies have the ability to improve design processes and the built environment for all people.
“I am thrilled to welcome both Esther and Qi to our community,” Design Studies Department Chair and Professor Jung-hye Shin says. “Their work embodies the evolving definitions of design in the 21st century, critically examining the role of AI in the broader contexts of social justice, democratization of knowledge and citizen participation.”
“While there are many avenues for future collaboration across the multiple units at the School of Human Ecology, I am particularly excited about their alignment with our new major in Design, Innovation, and Society, as well as the vision our Design Studies faculty put forward several years ago,” Jung-hye Shin continues.
These appointments highlight the fact that the AI sphere is a vast one that needs researchers from a variety of fields, says Kevin Ponto, Audrey Rothermel Bascom Professor of Design Studies.
“You need the computer scientists, you need the people who understand what transformers are and all the underlying algorithms, but you also need people who understand the applications and impacts of that type of technology. I’m excited that we’re able to take that broad view with these hires,” Kevin Ponto says.
Esther Kang and Qi Yang both say they were drawn to the School of Human Ecology because of its emphasis on collaboration across disciplines and its research and teaching that drive positive social change.
Esther Kang examines how histories of social inequities may appear in contemporary design decisions. The objective of her scholarship is to account for changing conditions — economic, environmental and political — in the practice and teaching of community-driven design.
“My motivation for this work is the belief that an equitable world is integral to our planet’s overall health,” she says.
Esther Kang builds upon 10 years leading interdisciplinary projects in civic design and technology across the U.S. at the federal, state and municipal levels. Her intersectional and interdisciplinary research was further informed by the humanities-based approach to design and technology at Carnegie Mellon University, where she earned her PhD.
Her work strongly overlaps with the Civil Society & Community Studies department, as well as across campus and beyond, including things like community-based work that examines local economies’ transitions to automation and their implications for design and technology.
“I believe those in technological fields — practitioners, funders, policymakers, students and researchers — need to keep in mind that tech is not infallible, and it is not a silver bullet,” Esther Kang says. “In that light, I believe a human ecologist’s perspective is to first ask these questions: ‘Should this be designed?’ or ‘Should this be made? If so, for whom, by whom, and why?’”
Qi Yang’s research focuses on developing computational design tools that foster inclusive, creative and evidence-based decisions to democratize the design process with the aim of improving the well-being of all people. His background in architecture drove his interest in the principles of design, leading him to a PhD program in human behavior and design at Cornell University.
The work done by Qi Yang on human-computer interaction supports inclusive design by lowering barriers for more people to participate earlier in the design process and representing the needs of a wider variety of people. He also has expertise in brain-computer interface tools and AI-driven predictive behavioral models, which can support more inclusive, data-informed design decisions, helping designers make choices that prioritize user experience.
“I’m fascinated by the fact that humans are capable of developing tools to complement our own natural blindspots. This makes me curious and passionate about design tools, including AI,” Qi Yang says. “I consider AI one of the tools that can enhance the design process.”
Especially interested in wayfinding, his tools tend to focus on human behavior within buildings so that people have an easier time navigating their surroundings. This is a big problem in hospitals and transportation hubs that will only grow as the global population ages, he says.
Dean Shim says Esther Kang and Qi Yang’s appointments are just the beginning of the School of Human Ecology’s investment in the Wisconsin RISE Initiative. The school plans to hire 10 or more faculty members in the next two years across all RISE themes, including AI, EARTH and THRIVE.
“My vision is that the School of Human Ecology becomes a role model in integrating all RISE Initiative themes — not only within our school but across campus,” Dean Shim says. “To this end, we will invest in creating a dedicated Human Ecology RISE hub within Nancy Nicholas Hall to create collaborative research space and also provide special grand challenge grant opportunities for faculty to promote their interdisciplinary work.”