Assist. Prof. Dr. Luwen Yu | Experimental Design | Women Researcher Award
Assist. Prof. Dr. Luwen Yu | Experimental Design | Assistant Professor | The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology | China
Assist. Prof. Dr. Luwen Yu is an accomplished academic and researcher in the field of computational media, color science, and human–computer interaction. She serves as an Assistant Professor at the Computational Media and Arts (CMA) department of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) and is also a cross-campus faculty affiliate at HKUST in Hong Kong. Dr. Yu is widely recognized for her pioneering work that integrates design, psychology, and technology, offering new insights into how color perception and visual communication influence user cognition, decision-making, and behavior. Her career reflects a balance between research excellence, teaching commitment, and international collaboration, making her a leading figure in advancing the interdisciplinary connection between design science and computational media.
Professional Profile
Education
Assist. Prof. Dr. Luwen Yu holds a Ph.D. from the University of Leeds, School of Design, where her doctoral research explored the effect of color on consumer purchase behavior under the guidance of distinguished supervisors. Prior to her doctoral studies, she completed both her master’s and bachelor’s degrees at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in the Department of Industrial Design, focusing on the intersection of design principles, human factors, and user experience. Her education has provided her with a strong foundation in design research methodology, experimental analysis, and applied color science, equipping her to approach research questions with methodological rigor and creativity.
Experience
Assist. Prof. Dr. Luwen Yu’s professional journey includes significant academic and research positions that have strengthened her interdisciplinary expertise. Before joining HKUST, she worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Leeds, where she collaborated with leading researchers in design cognition, visual perception, and human–computer interaction. Currently, as an Assistant Professor, she leads research projects that integrate eye-tracking, fNIRS data analysis, and computational approaches to study visual communication and decision-making processes. She has actively participated in organizing workshops, mentoring students, and supervising graduate research projects, thereby contributing to the growth of the next generation of scholars in the field.
Research Interest
Assist. Prof. Dr. Luwen Yu’s research interests focus on color science, cognitive psychology, and user interaction in digital environments. She explores how color and visual attributes affect human perception, attention, and decision-making, applying her findings to areas such as consumer behavior, interactive media, and immersive technologies. Her studies employ a range of advanced techniques, including multimodal data analytics, virtual reality simulations, and behavioral experiments, to uncover meaningful patterns in visual cognition. She is also deeply interested in bridging design research with computational modeling, enhancing the usability and emotional impact of interactive systems and media interfaces.
Award
Assist. Prof. Dr. Luwen Yu has been recognized for her significant contributions to color science and computational media research through her selection for various academic honors, grants, and invited talks at international conferences. Her collaborative projects with global research teams demonstrate her dedication to advancing knowledge across borders, and her efforts in mentoring students and promoting diversity in science have further distinguished her as a leader in her field.
Selected Publication
Some of her notable publications include How Background Colour Shapes Digital Text-Information Processing: A fNIRS-Eye-Tracking Study (2025, 12 Citations).
Tailored Information Display: Effects of Background Colour and Line Spacing on Visual Search Across Different Character Types (2025, 9 Citations).
Decoding Color Perception: An Eye-Tracking Perspective (2025, 8 Citations), and Colour Associations and Consumer Product-Colour Purchase Decisions (2021, 45 Citations).
Conclusion
Assist. Prof. Dr. Luwen Yu stands out as an innovative and dedicated scholar whose work bridges design, cognitive science, and computational media. Her interdisciplinary approach has advanced the understanding of how visual stimuli impact human cognition and decision-making, leading to practical applications in user interface design, marketing strategies, and immersive learning environments. Through her strong research portfolio, active international collaborations, and commitment to mentoring young researchers, she has made a lasting contribution to her field. Her future research aims to expand into large-scale collaborative studies, develop novel computational tools for design evaluation, and continue influencing the direction of research in color science and human–computer interaction. For these reasons, she is an excellent candidate for this award, embodying both research excellence and leadership potential.