Product Experience Design Lab | University of Houston

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

17th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE) 2026. “Knowledge Navigated and Organized Together (KNOT): An AI-Integrated System Design for Enhanced Collaborative Learning in Higher Education,” Oral presentation.

The 12th Asian Conference on Education & International Development (ACEID 2026) “Research Coach Framework: AI-Integrated Pedagogy for UX Design Research Education,” Oral Presentation.

Almadi, Y., Kang, M. (2025). Systems Design Approach to Waste-to-Energy Transformation: A Circular Economy in the Coffee Industry and Community. The International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE) and the Affiliated Conferences 2025.

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, 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.
Amanda Romero, Research Assistant

Amanda Romero is a senior Industrial Design student at the University of Houston and a research assistant at PXD LAB in the Hines College. Her work focuses on product experience design, healthcare innovation, and the development of physical and digital systems that make complex interactions more intuitive. With experience in prototyping, visualization, UI/UX design, and human-centered research, Amanda explores how design can improve the way people interact with products, services, and environments. Her interest in healthcare and systems design is shaped by a curiosity for how everyday tools can better support both users and professionals. Through PXD LAB, she contributes to research and design projects that combine creativity, usability, and emerging technologies to create meaningful user experiences.
Trevor Truong, Research Assistant

Trevor Truong is an industrial design student and research assistant whose work bridges product design, experiential design, and visual storytelling. With a background in illustration, fabrication, and interactive systems, he is interested in designing objects and environments that inspire learning, curiosity, and emotional connection. His projects span educational experiences, exhibition design, theatrical environments, and spatial storytelling, reflecting a hands-on approach to prototyping, creative problem-solving, and systems thinking. As a member of the PXD LAB at the Hines College, he contributes to research focused on experience-driven design and the development of meaningful environments and systems that enrich the ways people interact with the world around them.
Eubin Tak, Research Assistant

Eubin Tak is an undergraduate senior at the Hines College and a research assistant at PXD LAB with a focus on physical product design and user experience design. Her work explores the relationship between physical products and user experiences, with projects that range from furniture design to user-centered digital experiences that enhance everyday life. Through research, prototyping, and iterative design, she strives to create thoughtful solutions that improve common interactions and experiences while addressing the unique needs of niche communities. With a passion for human-centered design, Tak is interested in how product design and UX design can simplify daily experiences or create more meaningful, tailored solutions for different user groups. Her work emphasizes empathy, accessibility, and longevity, with the goal of designing products and experiences that create lasting connections between people and the objects and systems they use.