Health Design Lab - University of Houston
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The Health Design Lab spearheaded by Dr. Elham Morshedzadeh and Professor Jeff Feng, serves as a dynamic hub where the next generation of designers and engineers converge to advance healthcare design. The Lab cultivates an ethos of participatory design and collaborative research, encouraging diverse perspectives to tackle complex healthcare challenges. It provides a fertile ground for thinkers from various disciplines to conduct research and develop innovative solutions, leveraging cutting-edge technology to bring ideas to fruition. Since its inception, the Health Design Lab has facilitated collaborative projects closely aligned with the Texas Medical Center, aiming to make a positive impact on the healthcare industry. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, participatory design principles, and rigorous research, the Lab endeavors to create meaningful and sustainable improvements in healthcare delivery and patient care.

Space & Equipment

  • Tobii Pro Glasses 3

    Tobii Pro Glasses 3

  • Tobii Pro Lab

    Tobii Pro Lab

  • User Testing / Lab Space

    User Testing / Lab Space

  • Medical Adult and child size mannequins

    Medical Adult and Child-size Mannequins

Publications & Presentations

Elham Morshedzadeh, (2024), Innovations in Healthcare Design, Device, Delivery and System, McClung, K. T., & Linton, D. M. (Eds.), An Introduction to Inclusive Healthcare Design, Taylor & Francis.

Shruti Shukla, Elham Morshedzadeh, Jeff Feng, (2024) A multisensory design approach to help relieve stress in a healthcare workplace, Interdisciplinary Practice in Industrial Design, Interdisciplinary Practice in Industrial Design, International Conference on Applied Human Factor and Ergonomic, Nice, France.

Elham Morshedzadeh, (2024) Advancing User Research in Industrial Design Education: Navigating Challenges and Harnessing Innovation, Interdisciplinary Practice in Industrial Design, International Conference on Applied Human Factor and Ergonomic, Nice, France.

Alexander Craik, José González-España, Ayman Alamir, David Edqulilang, Sarah Wong, Lianne Sánchez Rodríguez, Jeff Feng, Gerard E. Francisco, Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal. “Design and validation of a low-cost mobile EEG-based Brain-Computer Interface”, Sensors 2023, 23, 5930. (doi: 10.20944/preprints202305.1038.v1)

Jessica Sanchez Russi, Jeff Feng. “An Ergonomic and Design Review of the Lunar Terrain Vehicle”, Human-Centered Aerospace Systems and Sustainability Applications, Vol. 98, 2023, 23–31. (https://doi.org/10.54941/ahfe1003916 )

Morshedzadeh, E., (2023) Design Studio and Community Empowerment, International Design Conference, Industrial Design Society of America, New York, 2023.

Jeff Feng. “The Grit in Innoation_A Rigorous Pursuit of Creative Problem Solving”, IDSA International Design Conference Education Paper. Aug. 2023.

Jeff Feng. “Efficacy in Synergistic Innovation_Managing Co-Creation Design in an Interdisciplinary Studio”, The International Journal of Design Education. Oct. 2022. (https://doi.org/10.18848/2325-128X/CGP)

Morshedzadeh, E., (2022), Community-Centered Participatory Research In Healthcare Design Education”, International Design Conference & IDSA Education Symposium, International Designer Society of America, September 2022.

David Edquilang, Jeff Feng. “A Novel Headset System Synchronizing Vision and EEG Testing for a Rapid Assessment and Diagnosis of Concussions and Other Brain Injuries”, Healthcare and Medical Devices, Vol. 51, page 256-260. AHFE 2022. (https://doi.org/10.54941/ahfe1002125)

Morshedzadeh, E., Dunkenberger, M. B., Nagle, L., Ghasemi, S., York, L., & Horn, K. (2022). Tapping into community expertise: stakeholder engagement in the design process. Policy Design and Practice5(4), 529-549.

Morshedzadeh, E., Muelenaer, A., Morris, M., Werlich, D., & Nelson, M. (2021). Identifying Factors for Designing a Successful Interactive Telemedical Training System for Remote Pediatric Physical Exams.

Morshedzadeh, E., Cross, P., Arena, C., & Muelenaer, A. (2021). Teaching Strategies Considering Interdisciplinary Practice in Industrial Design Curriculum. In Advances in Industrial Design: Proceedings of the AHFE 2021 Virtual Conferences on Design for Inclusion, Affective and Pleasurable Design, Interdisciplinary Practice in Industrial Design, Kansei Engineering, and Human Factors for Apparel and Textile Engineering, July 25-29, 2021, USA(pp. 91-98). Springer International Publishing.

Niell Gorman, Jeff Feng, and Sirley yamile Marin Pareja. “Enhancing Prosthetic Hand Functionality with Elastic 3D-Printed Thermoplastic Polyurethane”, Human Factors and Ergonomics in Healthcare and Medical Devices, AHFE 2021. (https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80744-3_23)

Tristan Bennett, Jeff Feng, “Establishing a Relationship Between VOMS Performance and Changes in EEG Signatures for a Rapid Assessment and Diagnosis of Concussions”, Human Factors and Ergonomics in Healthcare and Medical Devices, AHFE 2021. (https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80744-3_13)

Niell Gorman, Antoinette Louw, Alex Craik, Jose Gonzalez, Jeff Feng, Jose L. Contreras-Vidal. “Design Principles for Mobile Brain-Body Imaging Devices with Optimized Ergonomics”, Advances in Usability, User Experience, Wearable and Assistive Technology, AHFE 2021. (https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80091-8_1)

Arena, C., Morshedzadeh, E., Robertson, J. L., Muelenaer, A. A., Hendershot, B. D., O'Leary, J. L., ... & VandeVord, P. J. (2020, June). WIP: transdisciplinary design education in biomedical engineering and industrial design towards identifying unmet needs of US Veterans and their Healthcare Teams. In 2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access.

Morshedzadeh, E., Arena, C. , Robertson, J. L., Muelenaer, A. A., VandeVord, P., Hendershot, B. D., & Lianos, E. A. (2020). Care for veterans and their healthcare. In Research & Education in Design: People & Processes & Products & Philosophy(pp. 283-288). CRC Press.

Jeff Feng, Rajeshree Jaiswal. “A Way of Motivating Patient in Rehabilitation – Case Study of a Motion Tracking Wearable Device”, International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE), 2020. (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51828-8_65)

Antoinette Louw, Pei-Fen Chang, Jeff Feng. “High Fidelity and Objectivity in Balance Assessment—A Comparative Study of the 6-Degree Motion Tracking for Body Balance Assessment to the Conventional Paper Test”, International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE), 2020. (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50838-8_23)

Feng, J. “Optimizing Sources of Inspiration for Innovation: A Case Study in Concept Generation Process”, the Design Research Society (DRS) 2020 International Conference proceedings, Brisbane Australia, August 2020. (https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2020.298)

Dorribo Camba, Jorge, Feng, J. “A Novel Modular Floor Lighting System Design and Application”, 51th Hawaii International Conference on System Science (HICSS) proceedings, 2018. (DOI:10.24251/HICSS.2018.040) 04 RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIP AND CREATIVE WORK

Feng, J. “A Value-Driven Partnership: Pursuing Long-term Collaboration”, the International Journal of Design Principle and Practice, 2018. (DOI: https://doi.org/10.18848/2325-128X/CGP/v12i04/1-9)

Feng, J. “Cultivating Creativity Through Empathy: A Framework in Design Studio Teaching”, IDSA/Eastman Education Symposium 2017.

Morshedzadeh, E., Ono, K., & Watanabe, M. (2016). A new model for improving user-product interaction evaluation, based on affordance and factor analysis. Bulletin of Japanese Society for the Science of Design62(5), 5_41-5_48.

Morshedzadeh E., Ono, K., & Watanabe, M. (2016). A User-product Interaction Evaluation (UPIE) Model, Bulletin of Japanese Society for the Science of Design62(5), 5_49-5_58

Jeff F. Feng, “A Forgotten World – Under Addressed Occupational Therapeutic Device Design”, the International Journal of Aging and Society, 2014. (DOI: https://doi.org/10.18848/2160-1909/CGP/v04i01/35244)

Koleini Mamaghani, N., Morshedzadeh, E., (2012) Evaluation of User and Product's Function Using Interaction Design Method, Honar-Ha-Ye-Ziba: Honar-Ha-Ye-Tajassomi 2 (41), 95-104.

People

  • Elham Morshedzadeh

    Dr. Elham Morshedzadeh, Director

    Dr. Elham Morshedzadeh is an industrial designer, usability researcher, and educator with experience teaching undergraduate design courses internationally and, in the U.S., Her research focuses on healthcare and telehealth design, community-centered design, and usability research.

    Prior to her teaching career, she spent a decade as an industrial designer in Iran, where she led various high-profile projects collaborating with engineers, anthropologists, and architects. She integrates her industry expertise into the classroom by emphasizing experiential, evidence-based decision-making in participatory design and research methodologies.

  • Jeff Feng, Co-Director of Industrial Design

    Jeff Feng is a seasoned designer and educator with over 25 years of experience across various industries, including healthcare, consumer electronics, and product packaging. He served as the design director at Metaphase Design Group for 7 years before transitioning to teaching at the University of Houston. With expertise in design thinking, creative problem solving, project management, team building, and leadership, Jeff has led award-winning design teams, earning recognition in prestigious publications and competitions such as IDEA, Medical Design Excellence Award, and ID magazine.

    He holds an MFA from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and has provided design and innovation services for Fortune global 500 corporations like Wal-Mart, PepsiCo, and Johnson & Johnson. Jeff's contributions extend beyond design, with over 50 U.S. and international patents to his name. In 2022, he was recognized as a senior member and inducted into the National Academy of Inventors for his outstanding contributions to the field.

  • Shruti Shukla, Research Assistant

    A graduate student pursuing her master's in industrial design, Shruti Shukla works as a research assistant for the Health Design Lab. She is curious and passionate about recognizing the less-than-frequent explored opportunities in creating human-product interaction and spends her time working on user research activities in the lab.

    Her contribution lies mainly in the field of qualitative user research data analysis. As a designer she wants to help create meaningful and effective experiences through her practical designs.


Research Assistant Alumni

  • Jessica Sanchez Russi