Research

Humans in Design Lab — Research Areas

The Humans in Design Lab explores the intersection of human behavior, cognition, and system design within complex and high-stakes environments. Our research focuses on understanding how people interact with systems, how decisions are made under pressure, and how design can enhance performance, safety, and well-being. Below are the core research areas that guide the lab’s work:

Cognitive Workload & Human Performance
We investigate how mental workload affects performance in demanding environments such as emergency response, healthcare, and aviation. This includes the use of tools like NASA-TLX, experimental studies, and real-world data collection to assess cognitive load and optimize human performance.
Human-Centered System Design
Our work focuses on designing systems that prioritize human needs, capabilities, and limitations. We aim to improve usability, efficiency, and resilience by integrating human-centered principles into engineering and organizational systems.
Cognitive Workload & Human Performance
Our work focuses on designing systems that prioritize human needs, capabilities, and limitations. We aim to improve usability, efficiency, and resilience by integrating human-centered principles into engineering and organizational systems.
Decision-Making Under Pressure
We study how individuals make decisions in time-critical and high-risk situations. This includes analyzing factors such as stress, multitasking, uncertainty, and information overload to better support effective decision-making.
Ergonomics & Human Factors Engineering
The lab examines physical and cognitive ergonomics in various settings, aiming to reduce errors, enhance safety, and improve overall system performance through better design.
Applied Research in Real-World Contexts
We collaborate with organizations to address practical challenges, particularly within the Kuwaiti context. Our projects bridge academic research with real-world applications, ensuring relevance and impact.
Design Thinking & Innovation
We incorporate design thinking methodologies to develop creative, user-centered solutions. This includes iterative prototyping, problem framing, and interdisciplinary collaboration.