I’m Joseph Makokha, PhD—a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Oslo, Department of Informatics (IFI). I study and build collaborative AI systems that augment people on complex thinking tasks such as designing—at the intersection of innovative teams, design, and artificial intelligence.
About
My work spans study design, prototyping, and deployment of AI systems to examine their impact on creativity, perception, decision-making, collaboration, and team dynamics. Alongside teaching, I run experiments and field studies and work with industry leaders to deploy and evaluate AI in diverse enterprises—bridging research and practice.
I hold a PhD in Mechanical Engineering (Design) from Stanford University, MA in Learning Design & Technology from Stanford, MA in Urban Education (Holy Names University, with a Single-Subject Math Credential), and a BS in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from the University of Nairobi.
Current Focus
Building systems that interject with useful suggestions during ideation, design, and strategy work.
Studying how AI affects creativity, shared understanding, and group decision quality.
Translating research into practice with partners; evaluating real-world value, risk, and adoption.
Selected Research Threads
- Interactive AI collaborators for sketching and concept generation in design.
- Human–AI teaming in creative and analytical problem-solving.
- Evaluation frameworks for AI’s effects on teams and organizations.
Methods
- Controlled studies and live field experiments with teams.
- Interface prototyping, instrumentation, and telemetry.
- Mixed-methods analysis (qualitative + quantitative).
ChatGPT: Mediating Complex Design Processes
DRS 2024, Boston — co-authored paper on LLM mediation of complex design work.
Culén, Karahasanovic, Makokha, Stevens, Zhao (2024)
Future AI Systems: An AI Outperforms a Human as Teammate
Preprint exploring when an AI teammate can outperform a human counterpart (TechRxiv).
Makokha (2023)
Augmenting People’s Creative Idea Generation Using an AI Sketching Collaborator
International Journal of Computer and Information Engineering, 17(1):84–92.
Makokha (2023)
Enhancing Human–AI Collaboration on Design Tasks Using an Interactive Text/Voice AI Agent
Proceedings of the 2022 International Conference on Advanced Visual Interfaces (AVI).
Makokha (2022)
Artificial Intelligence Paradigms and the Future of Learning
ASEE Annual Conference — partial review of AI conceptualizations and implications for learning.
Makokha (2021)
Situated Cognition and Cognitive Apprenticeship Learning
In Science Education in Theory and Practice, Springer, Cham.
Cakmakci, Aydeniz, Brown, & Makokha (2020)
Design & Manufacturing Model for Internet of Everything Devices
SystemX Alliance poster presentation — methods and lessons for IoE device development.
Makokha (2021)
System and method for augmented reality and social networking enhanced retail shopping.
U.S. Patent Application No. 13/346,437.
Ganesh, Sharma, Staubo, & Makokha (2012)
Teaching & Mentorship
At UiO, I teach and mentor across AI and design topics, advising graduate students and collaborating with European and US labs on human-centered AI projects.
Industry & Community
As an Executive in Residence at StartupLab (Oslo), I advise startups on AI strategy—from value discovery to responsible deployment—helping teams navigate product, IP, and adoption.
Contact
Email: josepmak@uio.no
Profile: UiO — Department of Informatics
Open to collaborations with research labs and industry partners exploring responsible, high-impact AI.