Younjung Hwang

Hello, I am a Senior Lecturer (US assistant professor) at Taylor’s University in Malaysia. Previously, I served as an Assistant Professor at Hunan University in China. I am also a member of the Korean Society of Design Science and the Korean Society of Design History. My research focuses on AI Experience (AX) in visual communication design, exploring how generative AI can be meaningfully integrated into graphic design practices and design education.

I received my PhD in Visual Communication Design from Hongik University in Korea, where I also completed my undergraduate studies. My academic work includes publications and books on graphic design and Chinese design, with a particular interest in visual culture and cross-cultural perspectives.

My current interests center on generative AI, human–AI co-creation, and contemporary interpretations of East Asian visual culture. I welcome opportunities for academic and creative collaboration with researchers and designers who share similar interests.

CV (Eng / Kor)

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Research

#AI Experience (AX)
#Human–AI Co-creation
#Design Education
#Visual Communication Design
#East Asian Visual Culture and Aesthetics

I aim to move beyond the indiscriminate use of generative AI for image production and instead explore how AI can be meaningfully integrated into creative processes within visual communication design, including graphic design, poster design, brand identity, package design, and UX design, for both students and professionals.From a AI Experience (AX) perspective, my work investigates how designers collaborate with generative AI as a creative partner rather than a mere image-generating tool. In addition, I explore approaches for expressing contemporary East Asian visual culture and aesthetics through human–AI co-creation.

To address these questions, I take three complementary approaches:

[Designer = Content Creator]
I argue that designers should move beyond the role of visual technicians to become content creators who communicate meaning through images, guided by language, concepts, and keywords.

[AI = Creative Partner]
Rather than relying on the indiscriminate generation of images, AI should function as a creative partner that supports inspiration, reflection, and designers’ creative agency.

[Design = Philosophy]
AI ultimately serves as a medium for expressing ideas and narratives. Drawing from East Asian aesthetics, where art, technology, and philosophy are intertwined, I ask how human–AI co-creation can capture truth in contemporary visual culture.

Latest News

10/2026

Book
My new book, AI and Brand Design (《AI와 브랜드 디자인》), has been published by Communication Books as part of its AI Series. The book starts from a simple observation: ask AI for a brand and you get the same familiar symbols, such as a leaf for eco-friendly or petals for cosmetics. It proposes subtractive thinking, deciding what to delete before you add conditions to a prompt, and applies it to naming, symbols, colour and typography. The book is in Korean and currently available in Korea, in print and as an eBook. I would love to hear how you teach or practise brand design in the AI era. https://product.kyobobook.co.kr/detail/S000221736546

06/2026

New Chapter at Taylor’s Design School
I am thrilled to officially join Taylor’s University in Malaysia as a Senior Lecturer. As an institution ranked in the global Top 1% and the Top 100 for Art & Design, it is the perfect place to start my next chapter. I can’t wait to continue my research on human-AI co-creation and explore new possibilities in design education with my new colleagues.

10/2026

International Conference
I took part in SHWID 2026, the 3rd International Conference on Smart Healthcare and Wearable Intelligent Devices, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from October 29 to 31, 2026, at Taylor’s University. I served as an Organizing Committee Member and a Session Chair, and gave an oral presentation of my paper, “Small Talk to Small Talk, Big Signals: speculative UX for AI companions in elderly health care.” I appreciated the chance to exchange ideas with researchers from different fields.

04/2025

Paper
The paper “Study on Generative AI Prompt Engineering for Package Design” with Yi Wu has been published in the International Journal of Advanced Smart Convergence (KCI). This study investigates methods for creating effective prompts to enhance package design using generative AI.

02/2025

Exhibition
I participated in the 2025 VIDAK International Invitational Exhibition with the work titled from February 11–14, 2025, at the University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa.