Project


Designing Reflective Technologies from Daoist Perspective

This line of research investigates how Daoism, as a non-Western philosophical tradition, challenges dominant Western framings of reflection as goal-directed, cognitively driven, and centered on individual self-improvement and problem-solving. Drawing on Daoist epistemologies and ontological commitments, we develop design directions for reflective technologies in HCI and contribute conceptual resources that broaden research agendas in HCI and design.

Investigators: Aaron Pengyu Zhu

Related Pubs: [CHI'26]

Reflection Health/Wellbeing


Beyond Self-Control: Reflective Mobile Use for Adolescents

This project explores how adolescents interpret and reshape everyday mobile technology use through reflection and lived judgment. Using youth participatory action research, adolescents act as co-researchers to examine the meanings of "mindless" use and challenge control-focused narratives. Through co-designed reflective activities and iterative prototyping, the project develops approaches that foster critical and self-aware relationships with mobile technologies.

Investigators: Aaron Pengyu Zhu

Related Pubs: [
CHI' 25 Workshop] [Tencent-CGS]

Youth Digital Wellbeing Reflection


Personal Informatics and Reflective Self-Tracking

This project explores how personal informatics tools (e.g., self-tracking) can support reflection as meaning-making, rather than simply behavior change or performance optimization. Through design and qualitative inquiry, we examine how people interpret data alongside routines, emotions, and life circumstances. The project contributes design directions for personal informatics systems that are more human-centered, context-aware, and supportive of sustainable well-being.

Related Pubs: [CHI' 22] [TOCHI' 23] [CHI' 21 EA]

Health/Wellbeing Reflection Responsible AI



Division of Industrial Design
College of Design and Engineering National University of Singapore
8 Architecture Drive Singapore 117356