Yuji Kinoshita, EDI '28Design Research, Physical Product Design, Social Impact
About
Yuji's story as an designer started during his time as a Mechanical Engineering student. His passion for human-centered design is reflected by his involvement in projects like an in-home mobility aid for individuals with fluctuating capabilities and the design of a system to equitably evaluate insurance coverage for lower-limb amputees. Through these experiences, Yuji began to develop his design philosophy in which establishing human connectivity is just as important as the engineering design process.
At EDI, Yuji is committed to furthering his engineering skills while learning how to lead a holistic human-centered design process: empathizing with humans, evaluating
technical feasibility, and communicating across disciplines to design products that have a cohesive, user-centered mission.
Portfolio
Why EDI?
As a mechanical engineering student, the highly technical problem-space was one that aligned with Yuji's love for problem-solving. However, he was unhappy with one aspect: the “human-ness” of issues—consideration of communities in which the product will be used, the historical context surrounding problems, or the emotional impact on the users—often falling out of the scope of engineering design.
After discovering the field of Human-Centered Design in his senior year, Yuji's path began to form a clearer path. He involved himself in projects where he can design for a user instead of benchmarks. He took a biomechanics class where he redesigned a system that determines insurance coverage for lower-limb amputees and chose a capstone project centered around an in-home mobility aid for individuals with fluctuating mobility. Whether is it the opportunity to specialize in Product Design, Design Research, and Social Impact or working alongside an interdisciplinary cohort of designers, the EDI program aligns perfectly with Yuji's mindset and career goals as a designer.
Experience before EDI
BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington.
