Ken Nakagaki

Ken Nakagaki is an interaction designer and human-computer interaction (HCI) researcher from Japan, currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Chicago. He is the founder of the Actuated Experience Lab (AxLab), which focuses on designing future user experiences through dynamic, shape-changing user interface technologies. His research spans human-computer interaction, user interface design, robotics, and dynamic shape interfaces. He earned his PhD at the MIT Media Lab, under the supervision of Professor Hiroshi Ishii, focusing on "Dynamic Shape-Changing User Interfaces." Ken has published papers at top-tier HCI conferences such as ACM CHI, UIST, and TEI and has exhibited his work at international art and technology exhibitions. He is a recipient of multiple international awards, including the MIT Technology Review's "Innovators Under 35."

• 2022–Present·University of Chicago·Assistant Professor
  • Founded and leads the Actuated Experience Lab (AxLab), researching dynamic and shape-changing user interface technologies.
• MIT Media Lab | Researcher
  • Focused on dynamic user interface design and development under the mentorship of Professor Hiroshi Ishii and contributed to several cutting-edge projects.

• PhD | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Media Lab
  • Specialized in dynamic shape-changing user interfaces under the supervision of Professor Hiroshi Ishii.
• Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees | Keio University
  • Majored in human-computer interaction and computer science.