Office Hours
Thursday - 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Yongyeon Cho
Associate Professor, Interior DesignSignature Research Areas
Contact
(515) 294-1532
Campus Office: 577 Design
Mailing Address
Interior Design Department
158 College of Design
Ames, IA, 50011
Interior Design Department
158 College of Design
Ames, IA, 50011
Bio
< p > Y o n g y e o n C h o i s a n a s s o c i a t e p r o f e s s o r i n t h e I n t e r i o r D e s i g n D e p a r t m e n t a n d a t e a c h i n g a f f i l i a t i o n i n t h e H u m a n - C o m p u t e r I n t e r a c t i o n P r o g r a m a t I o w a S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y . H e h o l d s M F A , N C I D Q , W E L L A P , a n d L E E D G A . H e w a s a n i n t e r i o r d e s i g n e r a t H O K , C h i c a g o . H e w a s a d e s i g n a d v i s o r a t K e u m k a n g E n t e r p r i s e s I n c . i n S e o u l , K o r e a . H i s i n t e r e s t s i n c l u d e w e l l n e s s d e s i g n r e s e a r c h , v i s u a l i z a t i o n t e c h n i q u e s , u s e r - c e n t e r e d a n d h u m a n - c e n t e r e d d e s i g n , a n d d e s i g n p e d a g o g y . < / p >Research Interests
Development of a Comprehensive Wellness-Centric Design Framework
• Progress: Significant progress has been made in developing the Wellness Design Evaluation Tool in collaboration with Dr. Huiwon Lim (Penn State University) and Dr. Hye Jeong Park (University of Northern Colorado). This work has been accepted for presentation at the 2024 IDEC Virtual Symposium and the AHFE 2024 International Conference.
• Next Steps: Cho will build upon the Application-Based Wellness Design Evaluation Tool and extend the framework to apply across multiple building types, including educational and commercial spaces. This research will result in a series of journal articles in design journals by 2026.
Cultural Competency and Creativity in Design Education
• Progress: The interdisciplinary research on cultural competency and creativity in design education has been ongoing, with the team presenting their work at the 2024 AHFE International Conference. A research proposal has also been submitted to the 2023 HCII Conference, focusing on creativity and cultural awareness in architectural design, graphic design, and human-computer interaction.
• Next Steps: Cho and his research team will continue investigating the intersection of cultural creativity and design education, focusing on practical strategies for integrating creative approaches into studio environments. This will involve further collaborations with educational institutions, contributions to the 2025 AHFE International Conference, and journal publications on creative design pedagogy.
Innovative Design Approaches for Hybrid Workspaces
• Progress: Cho's research team has actively sought grant opportunities and is exploring alternative funding sources, having submitted proposals to EDRA and other venues.
• Next Steps: The team will refine the proposal for future grant applications and build partnerships with local coffee shops and community spaces. The goal is to develop a comprehensive research framework by Fall 2025 and present findings by Spring 2026.
AI Tools and Immersive Design Environments
• Next Steps: Cho aims to explore the use of AI tools in architectural and interior design through interdisciplinary collaborations. He will develop a tutorial series and research the impact of AI tools on design processes and outcomes. The goal is to secure external funding and present findings by 2026.
Creative Works and Exhibitions
• Progress: Cho continues to participate in professional competitions and exhibitions, focusing on wellness design and design communication. Although some projects were not selected for exhibitions, they remain in progress.
• Next Steps: Cho will refine his creative projects and submit them to exhibitions and conferences. He plans to expand into interdisciplinary areas such as AI tools and immersive design environments.
Faculty Website: https://faculty.sites.iastate.edu/yongyeon/