PHD RESEARCHER · UW SEATTLE

René

Capella

Human-Centered Design & Engineering

Bridging industry leadership, software engineering, and academic research to investigate how people shape technology — and how technology shapes people.

View CV

ABOUT

Designing for people,
with people

I’m a PhD researcher in Human-Centered Design & Engineering at the University of Washington. My work sits at the intersection of design education, ambiguity in creative practice, and the ways emerging technologies reshape human experience.

Before academia, I spent years in industry as a Product Manager and Lead Software Engineer — building real systems, leading teams, and shipping products used by thousands. That practical grounding informs everything I research and design today.

SKILLS

A rare mix of research,
design, and engineering

Research

UX Research
Usability Studies
Qualitative Research
Quantitative Research
Thematic Analysis
Interviews
Academic Publication
Discursive Design

Design

Figma
Miro
Wireframing
Prototyping
UI Design
UX Design
Co-Design

Engineering

Python
Java
Ruby
R
Full Stack
DevOps
System Architecture

Leadership

Agile / Scrum
Sprint Planning
Product Roadmapping
DEI
Cross-Functional Teams
Waterfall

EXPERIENCE

Where industry
meets academia

2024-present

Research Assistant

University of Washington · Dr. Tyler Fox & Dr. Cindy Atman

Leading qualitative design education research on ambiguity. Coded 20 weeks of 12 participants’ work; co-authored published research on design uncertainty.

2023-2024

Teaching Assistant

University of Washington

Designed curriculum for core design and project management courses. Integrated diversity, cognitive bias, and design methodology.

2020-2023

Google Developer Club – Founder & Lead

Seattle, Washington

Produced 253 technical events reaching 2,000+ global participants. Highest activity rating among 180 schools worldwide.

2017-2021

Product Manager & Lead Software Engineer

Seattle, Washington

Led a B2B SaaS transportation platform: roadmap, sprint planning, DevOps, system architecture. Integrated 5+ broker systems.

RECOGNITION

Awards & honors

  • Award of Excellence — College of Engineering, HCDE

  • President’s Award Finalist 2024

  • Martin Honors Scholar

  • Seattle Foundations Scholar

  • Top Scholar — HCDE

  • HCDE DEI Scholarship Recipient

  • HCDE Alumni Association Recipient
CONTACT

Let’s work

together

Open to research collaborations, speaking engagements,
and design consulting.
✉ rene2024@uw.edu
↗ LinkedIn
↓ Download CV

2026 René Capella

PhD Researcher · HCDE · University of Washington