Hsiao-Yun Chu

Hsiao-Yun Chu

Professor
Graduate Studies Coordinator, Study Abroad Coordinator
Phone: (415) 338-2430
Email: hychu@sfsu.edu
Location: Humanities building room 116
Office Hours:
Mon: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Virtual) ZOOM

Hsiao-Yun Chu is an accomplished design educator, author, and design historian. Her teaching encompasses user-based research methods, an emphasis on the design process, an orientation towards applied and experiential learning, a love of research and history, and an interest in cross-cultural aspects of design. Chu is the author of two books on R. Buckminster Fuller (Stanford Press, Ivorypress) and numerous articles on design. She holds a bachelor's degree from Harvard, a master's in Product Design from Stanford University, and a PhD in the History of Art and Design from the University of Brighton (UK).

Honors Received at San Francisco State University

SFSU Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching

CEETL High Impact Teaching Award

EATC Exceptional Service Award

LCA Excellence in Teaching Award

 

Professional Certifications

Equity and Social Justice Leadership Program

Quality Learning and Teaching Online Certification

Transformational Teaching through Transitions Certification 

CSU Student Service Success Analytics Certification

Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Pedagogies   

 

Product Design

I have a master's degree in Product Design from Stanford University and over 15 years of university-level teaching experience in this field. I have worked on collaborative projects with Phillips, Hitachi, Stanford University's Rapid Prototyping Lab, Audi, Cardica, and the Institutes of Aging involving different aspects of product design research and development.

Graduate Coordinator

I am the graduate coordinator for our school. I advise all students on choosing courses, liaise with the school and university Graduate Studies division, help students to define their master's thesis projects, and overall student support. I also recruit new students, review applications, and advise incoming students to our school.

Design History

I have authored numerous articles and books on Design History, especially on R. Buckminster Fuller. My book publications include New Views on R. Buckminster Fuller (Stanford University Press) and Dymaxion Car: Buckminster Fuller (Ivorypress).

Research and Writing for Design

I have taught our writing in the disciplines course (GWAR) for many years and also developed a graduate level writing requirement course to fulfill our graduate program's level 1 writing requirement.I have extensive experience writing and researching design-related areas and themes. I am currently on the editorial board of the International Journal of Design, a peer-reviewed journal of design. More information at ijdesign.org.

Packaging Design

I have professional experience working for a small sustainable packaging design firm called Parapluie Designs. I have also taught DAI 475 Packaging Design for several semesters here in the School of Design as well as teaching Packaging Design at the Art Institutes of San Francisco (AI).

Product design, History, User-centered design, Sustainable design, Design for Social Impact