I’m Vinaya Tawde, a PhD researcher at the HCI lab at Masaryk University, Czech Republic.

At the intersection of Human–Computer Interaction (HCI), mental health, and design research, I focus on building technologies that foster emotion literacy, connection, and care. As a qualitative researcher and interaction designer, I’m interested in the ways digital tools can help young people express, understand, and manage their emotions and how design can respond with empathy to the needs of vulnerable groups.

In my PhD, I work with ASP Belong, where I explore how interactive markers in mobile augmented reality (AR) games can help children build a sense of belonging and social connection. This work combines my interests in play, interaction, and emotional well-being.

Before beginning my doctoral journey, I collaborated on diverse projects to design digital mental health interventions addressing emotional support to teenagers during COVID-19, and on projects for children living with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, and Down Syndrome. These experiences deepened my interest in designing technologies that are both scientifically grounded and emotionally sensitive.

I’m driven by a simple question:

How can we design technologies that deepen our humanity?