Haowei Yu

Graduate Diploma in Design Innovation graduate Haowei Yu applied her undergraduate degree to design digital experiences that help stroke rehabilitation.

“I found Interaction Design at the Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation, which allowed me to apply my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Marketing from another university”, Haowei says, “the diploma allowed me to apply the knowledge to different digital mediums and to examine how people interact with systems and objects in diverse contexts.”

Haowei enjoyed the flexibility to tailor her learning and university experience within the Graduate Diploma in Design Innovation qualification. “I expected the course to be structured like in undergraduate but, in reality, it had a flexible structure. It took some time to get used to, but it became a lot easier once we got to know everyone in the programme.”

A memorable class for Haowei was Advanced Theory, a critical examination of theoretical and creative work at the intersections of design, culture, history, politics, and ethics. “We had insightful discussions as a class, it was incredibly engaging and allowed me to think about how design influences and is impacted by other disciplines and contexts”, she says.

“A dedicated studio space allowed us to work socialize with other students within the Master of Design Innovation programme. It’s cool looking at what other people are working on and getting to know what they’re interested in - I’ve definitely picked up a few Industrial Design jargon along the way.”

The industry connections of the Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation enabled Haowei to make a real-world impact in the healthcare sector. “I’ve always had an interest in the healthcare space because it’s such an important aspect of everyone’s lives, so I focused on the sector during my capstone project. It was an amazing opportunity to work with healthcare researchers and talk to physiotherapy professionals”, she says.

Associate Professor Edgar Rodríguez Ramírez, who leads the Smart Interactions Design group at the Wellington School of Design Innovation, was Haowei’s primary supervisor and enabled her to connect with relevant industry professionals.

Haowei translated her capstone project into employment with researchers in the healthcare field. “I am currently working with Sharon Olsen and Nada Signal, who are two researchers from The School of Clinical Sciences at the Auckland University of Technology. I am also a part of Tangible Interactions — one of the Design Research Innovation Labs streams at the School of Design Innovation.”

“I might return to enrol in a PhD here at the School of Design Innovation at some point to push the envelope further. There aren’t many universities in New Zealand that research healthcare design”, she remarks.