معرفی
Professor Karen Cheng is a renowned scholar and designer in Visual Communication Design at the University of Washington's School of Art, Art History and Design. She holds the UW Design Alumni Endowed Faculty Fellowship. Her work bridges design theory and practice, focusing on typography, information design, and sustainability. She authored *Designing Type* (Yale University Press), a seminal text translated into multiple languages, and co-designed the award-winning *Smart Bins* recycling system.
Education: MDes in Graphic Design from University of Cincinnati (1996), BSc in Chemical Engineering (Penn State), with prior industry experience at Procter & Gamble. Research emphasizes collaboration between designers and scientists, evidenced by her *Design Help Desk* initiative and studies on visual design's impact in scientific communication.
Recent work includes *Park at Your Own Risk* (2024), an interactive data story on Seattle parking policies, and ongoing projects commercializing *Smart Bins* through UW startup EvoEco. Awards include SEGD Merit Award (2017) and a National Design Award nomination (2011). She teaches courses on typography and design systems, advising students in interdisciplinary projects.
Key contributions span over 20 peer-reviewed articles, including studies on map design for healthcare facilities, data visualization for public policy, and typography's role in scientific rigor. Her research lab focuses on environmental sustainability through design innovation.
