Yaoyi ZhouAssistant Professor of Design Studies | Dean’s Human-Centered Design Faculty Fellow

My current research work examines how AI influences creativity in design ideation, how expertise shapes the perception and aesthetic judgment of AI-generated visuals, and the differences between AI-driven and human-generated design critiques. I am also developing studies using functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) to investigate cognitive responses to AI imagery versus hand sketches, offering new insights into creativity, perception, and design process. At the heart of this research is a critical exploration of how AI can be integrated into human-centered design practice—not merely for efficiency, but to foster more innovative, meaningful, and responsive design solutions.

Alongside my focus on AI and design process, my earlier research investigated how spatial environments impact social well-being, particularly through workplace design and social network formation. Through studies on co-working spaces, shared study environments, and network formation dynamics, my research work aims to broaden the understanding of how design can support collaboration and social connection. Across both research areas, my goal is to explore evidence-based strategies that empower designers, organizations, and communities to create more creative, inclusive, and human-centered environments.

Selected Publications

Zhou, Y. (2023). Social network analysis: Studying social interactions and relations in the workplace. In Tagliaro, C., Orel, M., and Hua, Y. (Eds.), Methodological Approaches for Workplace Research and Management (144-157). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003289845

Zhou, Y., Hua, Y., & Liu, J. (2022). Study workplace space occupancy: A review of measures and technologies. Journal of Facilities Management, 20(3), 350-368. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFM-01-2021-0013

Zhou, Y., & Hua, Y. (2021). The role of shared study space in shaping graduate students’ social networks. Journal of Facilities Management, 19(1), 92-110. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFM-08-2020-0060

Zhou, Y., Tagliaro, C., & Hua, Y. (2021). Networked “bubbles”: Study workgroups’ spatial adjacency preference using social network analysis methods. Journal of Corporate Real Estate, 23(2), 87-105. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRE-06-2020-0024

Tagliaro, C., Zhou, Y., & Hua, Y. (2021). A change in granularity: Measure space utilization through smart technologies. Facilities, 39(1/2), 64-79. https://doi.org/10.1108/F-08-2019-0093

For a full list of publications, see Zhou’s CV.