Tiffany Tseng

Tiffany Tseng is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Barnard College, Columbia University, and director of the Design Tools Lab. Her research focuses on creating design software to empower creative expression and knowledge sharing across diverse user groups, including youth and professional designers. She holds a Ph.D. in Media Arts and Sciences from MIT, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT.

Her work combines computational technologies with design-based research, emphasizing collaboration with community partners like museums and schools. Prior roles include Research Scientist at Apple, Project Assistant Professor at the University of Tokyo, and UX design roles at Autodesk and IDEO. She has developed tools for animation, machine learning, electronics prototyping, and 3D design.

Key research areas include collaborative machine learning (Co-ML), interactive plush toys with AI integration (PlushPal), and tools like Circuit Assemblies for hybrid 3D-printed electronics. Her work has received accolades including the 2023 IDC Honorable Mention and 2021 IDC Best Paper Award.

She currently oversees the Design Tools Lab and has pioneered platforms like Build in Progress for process-oriented documentation. Her projects emphasize democratizing design through accessible, creative technologies.