Yu Zhao

My research area explores Just Transitions to Net Zero through co-designing interactive technology with communities. I investigate how interactive technology and media can enable effective communication and build agency for climate actions that support just transitions to net zero. I intend to collaborate with local communities, environmental trusts and organisations, and people who are more significantly impacted by climate change and/or climate actions. Using the Research through Design method, I aim to understand existing practices of public engagement with environmental concerns and investigate the potential and challenges of interactive technology for building climate agency.

During my MFA in Design Informatics at the University of Edinburgh, I focused on building interfaces between data and society. Prior to this, I completed my undergraduate studies in Urban and Rural Planning at Southwest Jiaotong University. In my master's dissertation, I examined how immersive visualization in virtual reality can highlight the impact of COVID-19 on CO2 emissions. The study connected virtual environments with real-world data, making distant or abstract climate issues more tangible and accessible.

Before joining Open Lab, I worked as a user experience designer at technology companies in China, such as ByteDance, Tencent, and NetEase Games. There, I supported the enhancement of user interfaces and experiences for B2B solutions, gaming platforms, and government projects, specialising in system efficiency, interaction design, and visual storytelling.