Cynthia Putnam is an assistant professor at the College of Computing and
Digital Media at DePaul University. She is interested in human-centered
approaches to design. Her framework for this field is informed by over ten
years of working in industry as a visual and interaction designer,
illustrator and animator prior to earning her PhD. Cynthia received her
PhD in Human Centered Design& Engineering from the University of
Washington.
Research Area
Human Computer Interaction, Graphics / Animation
Specific Research Areas
(1) Use and adaptation of human-centered design methods to support technology design for underserved diverse communities.
- Currently: How movement-related videogames are used in rehabilitation treatments for people who have suffered a brain injury.
(2) Bridging the design/research dialogue gap which entails improving how designers access, utilize and integrate user research in their work.
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Currently: How human-computer interaction (HCI) professionals do their jobs; e.g., methods that professionals use to (a) investigate and (b) communicate about end-users.
Professional Associations
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), Interaction Design Association, The Usability Professionals Association