- V502d
- +852 2766 5492
- zhibin.zhou@polyu.edu.hk
- Research Interests: Human-AI Interaction Design Methodology/Tools for AI-enhanced UX
Biography
Dr Zhibin Zhou is currently an Assistant Professor (Presidential Young Scholar) at the School of Design, Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), starting in 2026. From 2023 to 2025, he served as a Research Assistant Professor at PolyU. Prior to that, he was a post-doctoral research fellow at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (2022) and received his Ph.D. in Design from the College of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University (2022). Additionally, he was a visiting Ph.D. student in the School of Design and Department of Mechanical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano. His expertise lies at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and design disciplines, focusing on reforming design tools and methods to harness the transformative potential of AI.
His research elevates AI from a critical material to an integral collaborator, unfolding across two interconnected perspectives: a). Viewing AI as a design material, he explored how AI can be embedded in services to improve the functions and enhance user experience, thereby driving the creation of design tools that advance the development of AI-enhanced systems. In practice, he is also designing AI-driven products to address challenges in mental health and education. b). Treating AI as a design collaborator, he investigated how AI can serve as a creative agent to facilitate design processes (e.g., user research and ideation), leading to the development of novel AI-aided design platforms for journey maps, focus groups, etc. These platforms aim to empower startups and drive business innovation through design.
By rethinking design literacy, Zhibin aims to explore design paradigms in the AI era that enable designers to simultaneously explore infinite design possibilities, test and refine them within synthetic environments facilitated by AI, and move beyond linear and iterative design approaches.
Zhibin is actively seeking postdoctoral researchers with interests in AI and design, particularly in scenarios such as education and entrepreneurship. Interested candidates are encouraged to consider applying for the RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme.
Education and Academic Qualifications
- PhD, Zhejiang University School of Computer Science and Technology
Teaching Area
- Human-AI Interaction
- Design Methodology/Tools for AI-enhanced UX
