My name is Kirk Crawford (he/him/his), and I’m a Ph.D. candidate in the Human-Centered Computing (HCC) Program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), and a researcher at the Designing Participatory Futures Lab (DARE). I’m advised by Dr. Foad Hamidi.
I’m also a product manager and research strategist in the public sector, where I focus on building accessible, research-driven digital services that meet real-world needs. I work at the intersection of product strategy, user experience, and inclusive design to help shape tools that serve diverse communities.
For more information about my academic and industry experience, please see my 📃CV.
Learn more about me:
Read my bio (coming soon!)
Portfolio (coming soon!)
Need to reach me?
Email is the best way: 📧 **[email protected]** or [email protected]
Virtual Meetups W/ Kirk - Kirk Crawford
Research and Product Management Consulting (coming soon!)
My research explores how technology can better support the relationships and communication practices of disabled and neurodivergent people, especially those with limited or fluctuating communication abilities. I employ participatory design methods to collaborate with romantic partners as they share and co-create communication strategies, focusing on how intimacy, interdependence, and identity influence their communication practices and preferences. My goal is to empower marginalized and underrepresented groups as designers of technology and to inform a rethinking of how technologies are designed by centering their lived experiences and addressing the specific communication needs of their relationships.
| April 2025 | Peer-Reviewed Publication - CHI 2025
“Like a Love Language”: Understanding Communication in Disabled LGBTQIA+ Romantic Relationships | | --- | --- | | October 2024 | Accepted Poster - ASSETS 2024
Co-designing a 3D-Printed Tactile Campus Map With Blind and Low-Vision University Students | | May 2024 | Peer-Reviewed Publication - W4A 2024
Decoding the Privacy Policies of Assistive Technologies |