Meichun Liu, Asst Prof., Industrial Design, University of Washington

Meichun is an Assistant Professor of Industrial Design at the University of Washington. Her research explores the intersections of mass production and handcraft, the tangible and the digital, and the individual and the systemic. Her work is focused on smart crafts, which integrate traditional craft materials and techniques with digital technologies to enrich sensory experiences and human interactions.

Dr. Liu’s research investigates how technological artifacts mediate human experiences. At the individual level, she examines how digitally enhanced objects influence human behavior and decision-making. At the system level, she utilizes methods like agent-based modeling and simulation to study emergent behaviors in complex adaptive systems shaped by design interventions.

Dr. Liu earned her PhD in Design from North Carolina State University, a Master of Design from the University of Alberta, and a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from National Cheng Kung University. Her background as an accomplished industrial designer spans over two decades, primarily in the IT sector. She has also collaborated with craftspeople to create sustainable designs using materials such as bamboo, rush grass, wood, glass, and ceramics.

In 2011, Dr. Liu founded Wolkedland Design, where she continues to explore the fusion of technology and craft. Her work has been exhibited in various venues and has earned her over a dozen design and innovation awards, including iF, G-Mark, and Franz awards.