Aaron Pengyu Zhu
💡🌲🌀🔧🖌️
[Jan 2026] My first first-authored paper is accepyed by CHI’26, see you in Barcelona🇪🇸!
[Nov 2025] Our research received the Excellent Poster Award at the Tech for Good: Driving Social Impact conference hosted by NUS and Tencent!
[Sep 2025] I was invited by Tencent’s Tech for Good Programme to visit its headquarters in Shenzhen for three days of tours and exchanges (it was also my first time experiencing a typhoon).
[Jul 2025] I showed a poster and volunteered at DIS'25 in Madeira! Also, I made a zine!
[Apr 2025] I attended CHI'25 in Yokohama (attended a workshop)!
[Jan 2025] I joined the JEDI Lab at Division of industrial Design, National University of Singapore
About Me
Hi, I am Aaron, a designer and design researcher who applies empirical, ethnographical, PD, critical methods and STS theories to shape technologies that are centered on well-being, foster multi-species care, and are vibrant in nature:)
Below are some of the topics that I am currently working on or interested in:
- ☯️ 🤔 Designing Daoism-Inspired Reflective Technology
- 👦 📱 Teenagers’ Self-Regulation of Mobile Technology
- 😴 🌲 Envisioning the Future of Rest with More-Than-Human Approaches
- 🌆 🧒 Exploring and (Re)configuring the non-human in PD for relationality-making
- 🤖 🕙 AI-Assisted Visual Methods to Disrupt and Reveal the Temporality of Community Narratives in PD
I am pursing my Master degree in Design at National University of Singapore, advised by Prof. Janghee Cho. I received my B.E. in Interaction Design from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT) in Beijing, China, advised by Prof. Xiaochao Xi.
Publications
Peer-Reviewed Conference Papers
Toward Pluralizing Reflection in HCI through Daoism. (Accepted by CHI’ 26, In Press)
Pengyu Zhu, Kristina Mah and Janghee Cho
Text Readability of Smartphone in Dark Mode: Effects of Font Type, Font Weight and Color.(HCII 2023) [Paper]
Junxiang Chen, Pengyu Zhu, Jing Yun, Baixuan Tian, Yalan Yang, and Na Liu.
Extended Abstract or Workshop Papers
Unveiling the Invisible Work of Migrant Care Workers in Aged Care Homes: Implications for Future Care Technologies.(DIS’ 25 Companion) [Paper]
Pengyu Zhu, Yiming Yao, Haiyue Lu, Tse Pei Ng, Celeste Seah, Janghee Cho, Yiying Wu, and Jung-Joo Lee.
Tao-Technology for Teen Mobile Use: Harmonizing Adaptation, Autonomy, and Reflection (CHI’ 25 Workshop on Mobile Technology and Teens) [Paper]
Pengyu Zhu and Janghee Cho
Manuscripts
Reflecting on Teens' and Parents' Voices on Mobile Technology and AI Through Design Probes, Diaries, and Personal Narratives
Jina Huh-Yoo, Pengyu Zhu, Ji Youn Shin, Angela Ng, Mengyuan Zhu, Katherine di Bona, Minghe Lu, Willow Yoo, Naseem Ahmadpourm, Gabriela Marcu, Janghee Cho.
Projects
Bridging
Co-creation Design Toolkit For Migrant Children in Beijing's Urban Villages
A fictional Singaporean Straits Times caring column 2030
Tempulse
Redefining the temple worship experience for youth
Memory Weaving
AI-generated memory-inspired bamboo weaving patterns serve as a medium for restoration and the continuation of collective memory
Beyond
Designing dining experience for High-Net-Worth people in space travel
An interactive tour system exploring Beijing’s Hutong culture