Chuma Asuzu
Doctoral Candidate, University of Toronto
My research focuses on the aesthetics of consumer products, specifically I'm interested in how one's evaluation of products are influenced by the visual references in the observer's memory. Older adults face difficulties with adopting new products and technologies, particularly those that can aid their care, thus the aim of my research is the development and validation of design methods for products used by older adults, for improved wellbeing and quality of life.
At UofT, I am enrolled in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering as well as the Collaborative Specialization in Psychology and Engineering. I am also lucky to be part of Ready Lab, supervised by Dr Alison Olechowski. This year, I'm conducting research at Rotman Research Institute of Baycrest Hospital, Toronto. In 2024, I was a Visiting Scholar at Goethe-Universität Frankfurt under the auspices of a DAAD Research Grant.
PhD Timeline
03 2025 → Received acceptance to present a paper at this year's International Conference of Engineering Design.
02 2025 → Selected to participate in the Canadian Institutes for Health Research Summer Program in Aging this summer.
02 2025 → Presented a poster at the Lake Ontario Visionary Establishment Conference in Niagara Falls, Canada.
10 2024 → Began conducting research at the Rotman Research Institute of Baycrest Hospital, Toronto, mentored by Dr Bradley Buchsbaum.
08 2024 → Attended the 6th PDMA Doctoral Consortium at the Whitman School of Management, Syracuse University as a Doctoral Student Fellow.
06 2024 → Published The Personas of Cloud CAD Collaboration: A Case Study of a Team of CAD Professionals in IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management.
06 2024 → Presented Differences in Consumers’ Interpretations of Novel and Familiar Product Designs: An Exploratory Study of Visual References at the Innovation and Product Development Management Conference in Dublin, Ireland.
05 2024 to 07 2024 → Conducted a research visit with Dr Jan Landwehr, Chair of Market and Consumer Psychology, at the Department of Marketing, Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany.
03 2024 → Received the Short-Term Research Grant from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
07 2023 → Presented Towards a better understanding of the influence of visual references on consumer aesthetic perception at the International Conference of Engineering Design in Bordeaux, France.
09 2022 → Began PhD studies.