SunMin (May) Hwang is a designer, researcher, and educator whose work interrogates conventional notions of permanence in the built environment. With a diverse background in arts, ergonomics, and architecture, her research is unified by a focus on designing for health, wellness, and social sustainability in the ever-evolving era of the human Anthropocene.

Her scholarship is organized into three interconnected strands. First, she explores health and wellness through the design of immersive, temporal environments, examining how physical elements influence intangible atmospheres that foster psychological well-being and guide behavioral choices. Second, her work advances community-engaged design that surpasses industry standards to foster intergenerational connection and communal health. This approach prioritizes spaces that are psychologically and intergenerational lasting - adaptive and flexible - supported by, but not limited to, physical elements of the space. The third strand of her research offers a critical re-examination of sustainability by intentionally designing for degradation and transience, creating opportunities for adaptation and evolution over time.

This tripartite focus is evident in her key projects. Her work on intentional degradation directly challenges the mandate for perpetual lifecycles in architecture, proposing buildings designed for a graceful decay that gives back to the environment, such as by capturing carbon dioxide. In other community-centered projects, she partners with local organizations to bring about positive change, whether promoting healthy eating for children or reinvigorating community through physical improvements, consistently demonstrating a commitment to social wellbeing and environmental stewardship. Before pursuing her academic career, May worked at interior design and architecture firms in Jakarta, Seoul, Boston, and New York City.