Ella Dagan

University of California, Santa Cruz

Papers

4

Total Citations

46

H-Index

3

About

Ella Dagan is a researcher working at the intersection of human-computer interaction, socially assistive robotics, and design for child well-being. Her most influential work centers on the Research-through-Design methodology, most notably demonstrated in her case study of an intimate-space socially assistive robot developed to help children regulate their emotions — a project that has accumulated 35 citations and represents a meaningful contribution to the field of affective computing and child-centered design. Dagan's work challenges conventional boundaries of what constitutes a "robot," exploring tangible, body-proximate devices that scaffold emotional development in young users. Beyond assistive technology, she has extended her scholarly lens to the aesthetics of design, developing an interpretive framework around "cuteness" that offers artists, designers, and engineers a structured vocabulary for leveraging warmth and joy in user experiences. Her more recent work examines robotics education kits for youth, critically evaluating existing tools and proposing alternatives to broaden participation in computational fields. Across her portfolio, Dagan consistently bridges theoretical design inquiry with practical, human-centered applications, making her an emerging voice in HCI research focused on children, emotion, and embodied interaction.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

3
H-Index
4
Papers
46
Total Citations
12
Avg Citations/Paper
🏆 Most Cited Paper
Design (Not) Lost in Translation: A Case Study of an Intimate-Space Socially Assistive “Robot” for Emotion Regulation
35 citations · 2022
📈 Most Prolific Year: 2022 (1 Papers)
🤝 Key Collaborators: 19
🏛 Institutions: University of California, Santa Cruz

Top Papers

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Key Collaborators

Contact & Links

Available for collaboration
Content generated · 15 days ago