Academic
Research
Empirical, mixed-methods research on how people build judgement, trust, and wellbeing with technology — from health and mental-health apps to the generative AI tools now reshaping design itself.
Doctoral Direction
Two questions I keep meeting in practice, and want to study properly.
01 — AI-native designers
A generation is learning to design with generative AI from the very first project. How does design judgement form when the tool was always there, and how can we build tools that support that formation rather than replace it?
02 — Wellbeing & human-data interaction
Health and wellbeing tools succeed or fail on emotion, not features. I study how people make sense of their own data, and how design can support reflection and care instead of guilt and fatigue.
MSc Thesis · 2023
Shahab Danesh University, Qom
The Effect of Design Thinking on Service Quality
Empirical research using Structural Equation Modeling (SmartPLS 3). Examined how Design Thinking methodology improves service delivery in educational contexts — bridging academic rigour with applied UX practice.
Student Research Projects
Mentor & Co-Researcher
Calmind — Stress Management App
How can UX design address the unmet stress management needs of university students? Mixed-methods research combining survey (10+ participants) and in-depth user interviews.
99%
Participants Experience Stress
70%
Report Loneliness
5
Interview Participants
6
Affinity Themes
DietBetes — AI Nutrition for Diabetes
How can AI-driven UX reduce information overload and emotional fatigue in people managing diabetes daily? Survey (10+ users, Type 1 & 2 diabetes, ages 25–65) + user interviews.
5
Pain Points Identified
25–65
User Age Range
4
Apps Analyzed
6
Empathy Themes
Divar — Ad Posting Optimization
Why do experienced Divar users abandon the ad-posting process, and how can form redesign reduce drop-off? Research on Iran's largest C2C marketplace.
29%
Cited Fees as Challenge
1 in 4
Photo Quality Issue
14
Survey Questions
5
Research Themes
Taaghche Redesign — Solving the Unfinished Books Problem
Taaghche faced a critical drop-off problem: users abandoned books mid-read. Research question: how can social and motivational UX transform solitary digital reading into a persistent, community-driven experience?
5
Apps Analyzed
5
Team Size
3
New Social Features
4
Root Causes Identified
Design Education
Melina Design School — 6,000+ students mentored
Five years building a hybrid design education platform combining recorded modules with live mentoring — a longitudinal study in what works in design education for non-Western, resource-constrained contexts.
mojtabaui.ir ↗6,000+
Students Mentored
5 yrs
Years of Iteration
12+
Projects Supervised
Hybrid
Live + Recorded