Jörn Bühring
Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor of Human-Computer Interaction
Research Interests
Professor Bühring’s teaching and research interests span human-centered design, strategic foresight, and the co-creative integration of emerging technologies within complex systems. Operating at the intersection of business strategy and design science, his work explores how digital transformation, strategic design, and human-in-the-loop systems drive sustainable innovation and user agency. In the classroom, he cultivates an experiential learning environment where students move fluidly from fundamental design principles to robust, futures-oriented prototyping, building the capabilities required to navigate dynamic technological landscapes. His research agenda focuses on strategic innovation, user-centered value creation, and the ethical dimensions of technology adoption across global contexts. By bridging academic theory with real-world practice through cross-disciplinary collaboration, Professor Bühring aims to empower the next generation of researchers and practitioners to build inclusive, human-centered systems that generate meaningful, long-term impact.
Email
Prior to joining MBZUAI, Professor Bühring held senior faculty and research positions across leading international higher education institutions. Most recently, he served as a Visiting Professor at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) and Abu Dhabi University (ADU), where he designed and delivered undergraduate, postgraduate, and executive programs focused on strategic design management, service design, and futures literacy. For over a decade, Professor Bühring was a full-time faculty member at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Design, where he led the Ignite Innovation program and conducted extensive research on how digital transformation and strategic design trigger life-centric business models. Professor Bühring built a distinguished career bridging executive industry leadership and international higher education. Before entering academia, he held senior leadership positions in commercial enterprises, spearheading market expansions, startup launches, and strategic initiatives for global icons including Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Toyota, BMW, and Bang & Olufsen.
- Ph.D. in Strategic Innovation (Human Engagement Innovation Futures), Swinburne University of Technology, Australia
- M.B.A. in Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Victoria University, Australia
- Senior Fellow of Advance HE (SFHEA): Awarded formal recognition for strategic leadership, sustained effectiveness, and impactful contributions to higher education teaching and learning practices, 2024
- Research Excellence Award The Hong Kong Polytechnic University – School of Design – 2020/2021
- Winner, 2020 Emerald Literati Outstanding Paper Award
Books and edited volumes
- Monograph: Bühring, J. H.: "Private Banking and Wealth Management Futures 2030: Greater China Perspectives", Springer Nature, 2021.
- Bühring, J., Kimbell, L., & Aaltonen, M.: "Catalysing Action and Transdisciplinary Pathways towards Sustainable Transitions", Journal of Innovation Management, special issue (guest editor), 2024.
- Bühring, J.: "Bridging strategy from both business economics and design sciences: Influencing, Management, Capital", Cubic Journal, Issue #6 (lead editor), 2023/2024.
- Bühring, J., Hoorn, J., & Ho, L.: "Quantum Probability in Strategic Innovation: Decision Support in Situations of High Uncertainty", Journal of Innovation Management (under review), 2026.
- Bühring, J., & Simeon, L.: "New Approaches for Sustainable Growth: Advancing Cross-sector Collaborations, New Capability Building, and Executive Leadership", Journal of Innovation Management, 2024.
- Bühring, J., & Bishop, P. C.: "Foresight and Design: New Support for Strategic Decision-making", She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation, 6(3), 2020.
- Bühring, J., & Vittachi, N.: "Transmedia Storytelling: Addressing the Futures Communication Challenge with Video Animation", Journal of Futures Studies, 2020.
- Bühring, J., & O’Mahony, B.: "Designing memorable guest experiences: development of constructs and value generating factors in luxury hotels", Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, 2(4), 308–329 (Winner of the 2020 Emerald Literati Award for Outstanding Paper), 2019.
- Bühring, J., & Liedtka, J.: "Embracing systematic futures thinking at the intersection of Strategic Planning, Foresight and Design", Journal of Innovation Management, 6(3), 133–151, 2018.
- Bühring, J., & Moore, P.: "Emotional and Social Intelligence as 'Magic Key' in Innovation: A Designer's call toward inclusivity for all", Journal of Innovation Management, 6(2), 6–12, 2018.
- Bühring, J.: "Foresight: Imagination and Worldbuilding", in M. Shanks & T. Carleton (Eds.), "Creativity in Complexity: The Case for Experiential Design Learning", MIT Press, 2022.
- Bühring, J. H.: "Innovation with Foresight: Anticipating alternative and creative responses in strategic organizational decision-making, and stories of possible financial services futures", in "Transformation Dynamics in FinTech: An Open Innovation Ecosystem Outlook, World Scientific Series", Imperial College Press, 2021/2022.
- Bühring, J., & Koskinen, I.: "Beyond Forecasting: A Design-Inspired Foresight Approach for Preferable Futures", in "Philosophical Frameworks and Design Processes", Re:Research, Vol. 2, Intellect Books, (2019).
- Bühring, J. H.: "Value innovation in the 'new' age of experiential consumption: The Millennial force," in "Culture, Innovation and the Economy", Routledge, 2017/2022.
- Wu, X., Siu, K. W. M., & Bühring, J. H.: "Barriers affecting incremental innovation in design-led SMEs in Greater Bay Area", 13th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE), New York, 2022.
- Endemann, H., Bruyns, G., & Bühring, J.: "The Compact City and Contemporary Urbanization Processes: Discussing Alternative Interpretations of Urban Compactness", 28th International Seminar of Urban Form (ISUF 2021), Glasgow, 2021.
- Endemann, H., Bruyns, G., & Bühring, J.: "A Compact City for a Beautiful Countryside – Entry-points to a discourse between academic research and institutional strategies," 14th conference of the International Forum on Urbanism (IFoU), Delft, 2021.