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Oscar Solis is a Mexican + American designer and researcher based in Pilsen. His design research explores new modes of community engagement and participatory models of design. His graphic practice focuses on art book publishing, queer diagrammatic forms,and technological mediation.
He is a PhD Human Centered Design Graduate fellow at DePaul's Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media, Chicago Art Department CORE studio resident, and programing council member of Co-Prosperity.
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Investigating deceptive design patterns in generative AI interfaces — how they manipulate user cognition, erode trust, and disproportionately affect marginalized communities.
Semi-structured HCI study examining how users evaluate, trust, and interact with AI-generated news content.
Establishing co-design as the guiding methodology for community-based research at the SPARK Center, drawing from interdisciplinary practices across DePaul.
Supporting the Steans Family Foundation’s housing portfolio through predictive analytics, baseline data products, and visualization tools for North Lawndale.
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What's the real question, and who is it for? I start by working with partners to frame the problem before jumping to solutions.
Go wide. Interviews, observation, contextual inquiry. I pick methods based on context and try to sit with the complexity before reducing it.
Spot the patterns. I use thematic analysis and affinity mapping to make sense of messy data without flattening the nuance.
Go wide again. Brainstorm, co-design, and explore directions with stakeholders. Who's in the room shapes what gets imagined.
Make it tangible and bring it back to people. Test early, listen carefully, and ask who might be left out.
Iterate on what works and turn research into frameworks, recommendations, and outcomes people can actually use.
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Methods are tools. I pick and combine them based on the research question, the timeline, and who I'm working with.
Semi-Structured Interviews
In-depth conversations with structured flexibility to surface unanticipated insights.
Contextual Inquiry
Observational research in naturalistic settings to capture behavior in context.
Diary Studies
Longitudinal self-reporting to capture experiences as they unfold over time.
Usability Testing
Task-based evaluation of interfaces, remote or in-person, moderated or unmoderated.
Survey Design & Analysis
Quantitative instruments with careful attention to construct validity and cognitive load.
Card Sorting & IA Testing
Uncovering how people think about information structure and navigation.
Focus Groups
Facilitated group discussions to explore shared values, norms, and mental models.
Community Advisory Boards
Structured groups of community members who shape research direction. Who sets the agenda matters as much as what gets discussed.
Workshops
Collaborative sessions where stakeholders generate, refine, and build on ideas together. The format and who's in the room shapes what gets imagined.
Thematic Analysis
Systematic coding of qualitative data to identify patterns and themes across sources.
osolis5@depaul.edu
linkedin.com/in/solisoscar
Resume
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Curriculum Vitae
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Open to community-engaged research, design strategy, and projects where research drives meaningful change.