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Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture + Design

PXD Lab

The Product Experience Design (PXD) Lab, led by Professor Min Kang, explores the future of experience-driven product and systems design by integrating emerging technologies such as AI, spatial computing (AR/MR/XR), and sustainable systems thinking into the design process. Our mission is to push the boundaries of traditional industrial design by emphasizing systems-level thinking, user-centered innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Rooted in the belief that product design must extend beyond aesthetics and function, the PXD Lab focuses on designing meaningful user experiences across physical and digital environments. We aim to develop innovative solutions that are not only technologically advanced and sustainable but also human-centered and context-aware.

Mission

  • Advancing design methods that integrate cutting-edge technology into product systems

  • Empowering students and researchers to lead in experience-driven design innovation

  • Collaborating with industry, academia, and communities to co-create impactful solutions

  • Promoting sustainable, ethical, and inclusive design practices through a systems design approach

Areas of Focus

  •  Systems Thinking: Applying holistic frameworks to design products within complex ecosystems
  • AI & Emerging Tech in Design: Exploring how AI, spatial computing, and other emerging technologies enhance creativity and design outcomes
  • Experience-Driven Product Design: Designing physical and digital products with a focus on user experience and contextual relevance
  • Sustainable Systems Design: Creating circular economy models and energy-conscious product-service systems
  • Collaborative Innovation: Fostering cross-disciplinary teamwork between design, engineering, and computing

Projects

Visit the industrial design program's UX Youtube channel to see additional student projects.

Publications + Presentations

Narcisse, D., & Kang, M. (2025). Reshaping Creative Workspaces: Leveraging the Transformative Power of Spatial Computing to Redefine Workspaces in the Design Process. The International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE) and the Affiliated Conferences 2025 

Akanda, M., & Kang, M. (2025). Empowering Older Adults with AI Agent-driven Medication Management: Enhancing Adherence, Independence, and Health Outcomes. The International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE) and the Affiliated Conferences 2025 

Kang, M. (2025). Product Experience Design (PXD): A Pedagogical Framework for Experience-driven Product and Systems Design with Emerging Technologies in Industrial Design Education. The 10th IAFOR International Conference on Education (IICE) 2025.

Fang, S., & Kang, M. (2024). Exploring Systems Design in EV Charging: Broader Distribution of Level 2 Charging System To Improve User Experience. IDSA International Design Conference (IDC) and Educational Symposium.

Kang, M., & Feng, J. (2024). Systems Design Education in Industrial Design: A Hybrid Approach of Combining ID Studio and UX Design Courses as a Superblock. The IAFOR International Conference on Education (IICE) 2024

Feng, J., & Kang, M. (2024). The Value of Flexibility and Adaptability: Personalizing the Innovation Process to Boost the Creative Performance. Eighteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices

Kang, M., & Fang, S. (2024). An EV Charging UX Design Exploration for Broader Distribution of Level 2 Charging System with Improved User Experience. The International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE) and the Affiliated Conferences 2024

People

  • Min Kang

    Min Kang, Director

    Min Kang is a product experience designer and educator with over two decades of industry experience. His career spans major global technology corporations and design consultancies, including Samsung, Motorola, Hyundai, and Design Continuum, where he honed his expertise in systems, product, and user experience (UX) design. Under his leadership, teams have garnered prestigious recognitions such as the IDEA, Red Dot, iF, and Medical Design Excellence Awards. At the Hines College, Kang has pioneered the development of a UX/UI Design curriculum for industrial design (ID) students since 2021, emphasizing sustainable practices and enhanced user experiences. His academic and professional work inspires future designers by reshaping traditional ID education to Product Experience Design (PXD). This experience-driven product and systems design approach prioritizes holistic user experience through sustainable products and systems, providing meaningful experiences with enhanced user interactions through advanced technologies. This methodology for products and systems design reflects his commitment to advancing the field while educating the next generation of design professionals.

  • Dillon Narcisse

    Dillon Narcisse, Research Assistant

    Dillon Narcisse is a graduate student and design professional at the intersection of industrial design and UI/UX design with over six years of industry experience. His focus is on both physical and digital products with the application of creative technologies, such as spatial computing, user experience (UX), wearable technology, and systems design. Narcisse strives in his work to blend advanced technologies to explore how they can transform human experiences and enhance creative problem-solving. He is currently a research assistant of the PXD Lab at the Hines College which focuses on experience-driven product design, emphasizing a systems approach to creating products, digital experiences and systems that deliver meaningful user experiences. 

  • Muhammad Tanvir

    Muhammad Tanvir, Research Assistant

    Muhammad Tanvir is a research assistant at PXD Lab at the Hines College, where he focuses on the intersection of user experience (UX) design and emerging technologies. With a background in computer science, Tanvir combines technical expertise with a deep understanding of human-computer interaction and cognitive psychology to create innovative, user-centered solutions. His work aims to design accessible and inclusive technologies that enhance the user experience and improve quality of life. Tanvir has five years of professional experience as a UI/UX designer, specializing in the design and development of intuitive, user-focused systems. His academic and professional work emphasizes leveraging emerging technologies to improve usability, engagement, and interaction across various digital platforms. Outside of his research, Tanvir enjoys traveling, writing poetry, and exploring creative problem-solving in UX design.

Lab Members:

  • Varshini Chouthri
  • Yasmine Almadi