Dissertation Proposal: Julie Vera, "Extreme Weather in Social Information Ecosystems: Toward a Theory of Sensemaking in Public"
The HCDE & DUB community is invited to attend a dissertation proposal defense by PhD candidate Julie Vera.
Extreme Weather in Social Information Ecosystems: Toward a Theory of Sensemaking in Public, Proposal Abstract:As extreme weather events become more frequent, social media ecosystems have increasingly become primary sources of information for severe weather events. While platforms such as Twitter/X have been extensively examined through crisis informatics frameworks, we lack comprehensive understanding of how extreme weather communications and sensemaking processes have evolved on newer, visually-oriented platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, particularly where algorithms oriented towards engagement may conflict with accuracy imperatives for safety-critical information.
This dissertation investigates how different social information ecosystems enable public sensemaking during extreme weather events, addressing gaps at the intersection of crisis communication, platform studies, and collective sensemaking…
Event interval: Single day event. Online Meeting Link: https://washington.zoom.us/j/98210261316. Accessibility Contact: hcdehelp@uw.edu. Event Types: Lectures/Seminars.
Thursday, September 18, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
Zoom.
Instruction Begins - Autumn 2025
Instruction begins.
Event interval: Single day event. Year: 2025. Quarter: Autumn. Event Types: Academics.
Wednesday, September 24, 2025.
For more info visit www.washington.edu. Hacking the UX job market
Join HCDE alumnus Ganesh Sankar, Senior Designer at Amazon, for an inside look at breaking into UX roles at top tech companies. Ganesh will share tips on crafting strong résumés and portfolios, preparing for interviews, building effective slide decks, and making the most of networking opportunities. Bring your questions—this session is designed to be interactive.
HCDE students: RSVP using the blue sign up button. Location information will be sent to registered students two days before the event.
Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: hcdehelp@uw.edu. Event Types: Special Events. Student Activities. Target Audience: HCDE students only.
Monday, October 13, 2025, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
In person, location TBD.
HCDE beyond design: Careers in product, UX writing, human factors, and UX engineering
Go beyond traditional design roles and explore the diverse career paths open to HCDE graduates. Hear from a panel of mid- to senior-level professionals working in Product Management, UX Writing, Content Strategy, UX Engineering, and Human Factors. Panelists will share insights from their own journeys and advice for students considering these growing fields.
HCDE students: RSVP using the blue sign up button. Location information will be sent to registered students two days before the event.
Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: hcdehelp@uw.edu. Event Types: Special Events. Student Activities.
Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM.
In person, location TBD.
HCDE Career Trek: Wyze
Get a behind-the-scenes look at Wyze’s Kirkland office for a conversation with team members and a guided tour of their workspace. You’ll learn about roles across the company and see how smart-home ideas become real products.
How to join: Application instructions will be shared in HCDE’s Tuesday Tips newsletter near the start of the school year.
Questions? Email Melissa Ewing at mewing3@uw.edu.
Students are responsible for their own transportation.
Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: mewing3@uw.edu. Event Types: Special Events. Student Activities. Target Audience: HCDE students only.
Thursday, October 16, 2025, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Wyze office in Kirkland.
HCDE Career Trek: Adobe
Get a behind-the-scenes look at Adobe’s Fremont office with members of their design and research team. Join us for a conversation and Q&A, plus a guided tour of the workspace, to learn about roles in design and research and see how ideas turn into innovative products.
How to join: Application instructions will be shared in HCDE’s Tuesday Tips near the start of the school year.
Questions? Email Melissa Ewing at mewing3@uw.edu.
Students are responsible for their own transportation.
Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: mewing3@uw.edu. Event Types: Special Events. Student Activities. Target Audience: HCDE students only.
Thursday, October 23, 2025.
Adobe office in Fremont.
Workshop: Creating your best portfolio
Join senior-level HCDE alumni for a talk and hands-on workshop all about building a standout portfolio. Learn what industry professionals look for, how to showcase your work effectively, and get practical tips for elevating your projects. Always one of our most popular student events!
HCDE students: RSVP using the blue sign up button. Location information will be sent to registered students two days before the event.
Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: hcdehelp@uw.edu. Event Types: Special Events. Student Activities. Target Audience: HCDE students only.
Friday, October 24, 2025.
In person, location TBD.
HCDE Career Trek: Seattle Children's Hospital
Get a behind-the-scenes look at Seattle Children’s with members of their design team. This Career Trek is a must for students interested in making a difference in healthcare—learn how design can improve patient care and support families, and explore career paths in this impactful field.
How to join: Application instructions will be shared in HCDE’s Tuesday Tips near the start of the school year.
Questions? Email Melissa Ewing at mewing3@uw.edu.
Students are responsible for their own transportation.
Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: mewing3@uw.edu. Event Types: Special Events. Student Activities. Target Audience: HCDE students only.
Monday, October 27, 2025.
Seattle Children's Hospital.
HCDE Career Trek: Uber
Get a behind-the-scenes look at Uber’s Seattle office with members of their design and research teams. Join us for a meet-and-greet and Q&A to learn how design and research shape user experiences at Uber.
How to join: Application instructions will be shared in HCDE’s Tuesday Tips near the start of the school year.
Questions? Email Melissa Ewing at mewing3@uw.edu.
Students are responsible for their own transportation.
Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: mewing3@uw.edu. Event Types: Special Events. Student Activities. Target Audience: HCDE students only.
Wednesday, October 29, 2025.
Uber Seattle office.
HCDE Career Trek: Expedia
Get a behind-the-scenes look at Expedia’s Seattle headquarters with members of their research team. Learn how researchers study travel experiences to improve products used worldwide—a great opportunity for students interested in pursuing research careers.
How to join: Application instructions will be shared in HCDE’s Tuesday Tips near the start of the school year.
Questions? Email Melissa Ewing at mewing3@uw.edu.
Students are responsible for their own transportation.
Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: mewing3@uw.edu. Event Types: Special Events. Student Activities. Target Audience: HCDE students only.
Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM.
Expedia Seattle office.
Design Jam: wearABLE futures
Find a team and join 30–40 HCDE students for a fast-paced design jam focused on making wearable technology more accessible. After conducting background research in late October, students will come together on November 7 in Sieg Building for a day of ideation and prototyping, with guidance from industry and academic experts.
How to join: Sign-up information will be shared in Tuesday Tips in early October.
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Sieg Building (SIG). Accessibility Contact: hcdehelp@uw.edu. Event Types: Special Events. Student Activities.
Friday, November 7, 2025.
HCDE Career Trek: Blue Origin
Join HCDE for our first-ever Career Trek to Blue Origin. Talk with designers, step inside a simulator, and soak up the future of space travel during this special visit. This trek is especially suited for students interested in speculative design, space, and the future of travel.
Eligibility: Due to Blue Origin’s business requirements, participants must be US citizens or green card holders.
How to join: Application instructions will be shared in HCDE’s Tuesday Tips near the start of the school year.
Questions? Email Melissa Ewing at mewing3@uw.edu.
HCDE students are responsible for their own transportation.
Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: mewing3@uw.edu. Event Types: Special Events. Student Activities. Target Audience: HCDE students only.
Thursday, November 13, 2025.
Blue Origin office in Kent.