Hi,
I'm Christopher Du
I am a Toronto-based recent graduate of the Master of Human-Computer Interaction program at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario with a strong passion for effective user experience, mixed-methods research, and a deep interest in understanding human cognition under the interaction with interfaces.
My academic background has instilled a strong expertise in quantitative and qualitative research specific to the domain of user interface design and the human factors involved in the interaction with user interfaces in various mediums and contexts.
I am excited and motivated to continue contributing to better and more effective interfaces through rigorous and data-driven understanding of users. You can find me below or continue scrolling to my research portfolio.
More about me
I was born and raised in the beautiful and diverse city of Toronto, Ontario. Scarborough more specifically—where, despite my qualms with its lack of urbanist planning, the best food in the city can be found!
Outside of research, I have a life-long passion for story-rich RPGs and competitive FPS video games, shaped through experiences such as Dragon Age: Origins and Counter-Strike. I also have a deep interest in music, film, and fantasy literature. And perhaps most important, I have been a supporter (sufferer as of recent) of Tottenham Hotspur FC for over a decade. COYS.
An overview of my resume
Education
Master of Human-Computer Interaction
Carleton University, Ottawa, ON
2024 - 2026
Thesis completed under the supervision of Dr. Nadine Marie Moacdieh.
Courses taken: Experimental Methods & Statistics; Fundamental HCI Design & Research; Emerging Interaction Techniques; Software & UI Development.
Honours Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Science
York University, Toronto, ON
2019 - 2023
Summa cum laude, member of dean's honour roll.
Experience
Graduate Research Assistant
IRIS Lab, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON
2024 - 2026
Advised by Dr. Nadine Marie Moacdieh.
Provided a supportive role in the design of early-stage research ran by members of the lab.
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Carleton University, Ottawa, ON
2024 - 2026
Assisted professors across several courses primarily through grading and addresing student questions and feedback regarding grading.
Courses include: Human-Computer Interaction (COMP3008), Eye-Tracking in HCI (COMP5900), Introduction to Computer Science I (COMP1405).
Research Projects
Augmented Reality Visual Cues for Piano Learning
Description:
Investigated the effects of three different augmented reality visual cue designs on user performance and usability in a guided piano-playing task. The primary goal was to better understand how increasingly complex visual cue design can affect future augmented reality-based music learning platforms. Our study provided insight into how complex visual cue design might be a negative addition, and how simpler visual cue design might be more effective for augmented reality-based music learning platforms.
Role:
Designed the experiment of the study and the augmented reality visual cues, as well as carrying out the quantitative analysis and data visualizations.
The Effects of Highlighting on Cluttered Visual Search in Virtual Reality
Description:
We looked at how three different text highlighting techniques can benefit text search under visual clutter in a virtual reality reading task. The reseach question we posed was how can we improve the visual search for text in a visually cluttered context in VR? Our study contributed to the understanding of how the negative effects of visual clutter in VR can be alleviated through the use of these highlighting techniques.
Role:
Co-designed semi-structured interview questions, carried out interviews with participants, and cleaned the transcripts for analysis. Preformed the inductive thematic analsis of interview responses. Conducted statistical analysis of workload differences.
In Search Of: Information Retrieval and Exploration in Spotify's Music Discovery Features
Description:
I compared Spotify's Search and Browse library features to examine how each supports a common task involving music retrieval from the platform's library. The goal of this study was to determine how well the design of these features supported users' goals with the interface. This study confirmed expectations and discusses how the current design of these features underutilizes Browse by positioning it as an alternative to Search.
Role:
Designed and carried out the experiment, and conducted all statistical analyses.
Measuring Roadway Clutter in Driving Scenes
Description:
A mixed-methods multi-study master's thesis centered on the concept of visual clutter in the driving environment, roadway clutter. I sought to determine how best to (1) define roadway clutter and (2) objectively measure it in scenes of driving environments (i.e., videos and images). The ultimate goal was to provide a better systematic standard for the use, selection, and manipulation of driving scenes as an experimental variable of future HCI and human factors research (e.g., car heads-up displays).
Research poster presented at CARSP/ACIP 2026 Conference, awarded 3rd place prize in Student Poster Competition. Co-authored manuscript submitted to a journal and in review.
