Mohsin Yousufi

My teaching interests are rooted in a design-centric, sociotechnical approach to computing, with a focus on courses in design research, civic technologies and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). I teach design research methodologies and the technical development of advanced civic tools, including training students in visual and information design with a focus on mixed-methods to integrate qualitative insights with large-scale data analysis. My expertise in building interactive data visualization platforms, hybrid human-AI/computing systems for public knowledge, and exploring new modes of civic engagement through practices like data physicalization directly informs my ability to teach specialized subjects in information design, and the engineering of scalable, publicly-owned knowledge infrastructures.

The primary research interest is the design and study of civic technologies to facilitate effective collective action within civic contexts, utilizing a methodology that examines existing sociotechnical systems and engineers novel technical platforms. My work uses mixed-methods analysis to examine how design configurations impact the validation of data-backed claims in public infrastructure, leading to the development of technical mechanisms for validating information. My research also focuses on the technical development and deployment of civic tools in communities, with a focus on building scalable, community-owned collective intelligence systems. My work is advanced through three core concerns: designing sociotechnical platforms for Deliberation at Scale, which includes methodological exploration for integrating qualitative insights with large-scale data; creating Publicly-Owned Knowledge Infrastructure through open-source, hybrid human-AI/computing systems focused on local information co-design and system sustainability; and developing New Modes of Civic Engagement via creative and material practice such as data physicalization. This work integrates machine learning, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), and design research to build and deploy advanced civic technologies.