I'm a junior level designer with architecture background from Columbia University and Syracuse University. I'm formerly an Assistant Designer at PolyGone Systems, Inc., a cleantech startup focusing on designing novel infrastructure and product solutions for microplastic pollution in the waterways.
My responsibility there focused on product design, installation design, exhibition architecture design, branding design and product development and engineering. My architecture background helped me transfer my multidisciplinary skill sets to this role.
My passion to design extends beyond creating artistic and aesthetic appearance of architecture, space, and product. I love the process of bringing designs from ideas to realizations, fulfilling user needs, and bringing real impact to the user experiences.
Outside of architecture, I love learning about new things, such as finance, investment, product design, cooking, baking, etc.
PolyGone Systems, Inc., Princeton, Assistant Designer
Design Responsibilities:
- Worked closely with the CTO on leading the design and assembly of a microplastic educational exhibition pavilion, which was a crucial part of the first microplastic removal pilot project at ACUA Wastewater Treatment Plant in Atlantic City, NJ.
- Worked closely with the CTO and engineering interns to assist the design, 3D-print prototyping, lab & field testing, and optimization for user-friendliness of the “Plastic Hunter” series and microplastic removal products, including the stationary monitoring pontoon, the unmanned surface remediation vehicle, the cleaning tank prototype for microplastic filters, and cylindrical filter prototype for microplastic collection.
- Improved the design of company’s branding guidelines, company website, the marketing brochures and the company posters. These design improvements helped the company enhance its industry influence during more than a dozen professional events (including trade shows, conferences, expos, etc), helped secure collaboration with AECOM and acquire international recognitions around the globe.
Managerial Responsibilities:
- Participated in the NSF Northeast Regional I-Corp Program as the Entrepreneurial Lead representing the company and performed customer discoveries for company’s “Plastic Hunter” USV product and carried out more than 15 customer and user interviews with potential operators, decision makers, and policy makers within two weeks to understand user pain points and industry challenges on water infrastructure and research operations.
- Analyzed the data and insights collected from customer interviews to assist the CTO and COO to strategize product positioning.
- Led the team of an engineering intern and a lab researcher to perform efficacy test on the cleaning tank prototype and report data and insights directly back to the CTO. I coordinated the design and assembly of the prototype, ran usability test and optimize design with the engineering intern repetitively to achieve ideal performance, and collaborated with the lab researcher on efficacy experiment protocols and procedures, and executed the experiment with the engineering intern to successfully collect strong data that’s beyond our expectation.
MUDO Architects, DO Design Group, Shanghai, CN, Architectural Intern
Design Responsibilities:
- Created schematic designs using Rhino and Grasshopper and program analysis using Adobe Ai & Ps for a master plan, a skyscraper, and a cultural museum project.
- Assisted the principal architect with updating architecture plans using AutoCAD according to the feedbacks from the engineering team.
- Won the 2021 AIA Shanghai & Beijing Design Excellence Award with the design proposal for the cultural museum project collaborated with other interns.
Managerial Responsibilities:
- Coordinated tasks and work loads and distributed work among other interns to collaborate on schematic proposal documents and deliver within tight schedules.
genarchitects, Shanghai, CN, Architectural Intern
- Designed the 3D print components for model making and crafted physical models for documentation and display.
- Created research analysis diagrams for multiple projects’ presentation documents
- Curated the company’s portfolio using InDesign for showcasing in domestic architectural exhibitions.
SIAD-C, Tus Design Group, Suzhou, CN, Architectural Intern
- Learnt with mentors on how to effectively communicate complex design solutions to non-professional clients through visual representation.
- Created visually appealing analysis diagrams and architectural drawings in AutoCAD and Photoshop for client meetings.
- 3D modelled the updated details of residential projects in Rhino and SketchUp.
Columbia University, New York City, Masters, Advanced Architectural Design
I graduated from GSAPP with Masters of Science degree in Advanced Architectural Design. During the one-year study, I have accomplished design projects rethinking different typologies such as data center and sports facility, truck stop and hotel, manufacturing factory and logistics that focus on the entanglement of technologies, environment and human experiences, and reflect on history/theory/philosophy from various writers such as Jonathan Crary, Timothy Morton, Donna Haraway, and Nicholas de Monchaux.
Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, US, BArch, Architecture
Graduating with Magna Cum Laude Honor with 3.556 overall GPA
Achieved Dean's List Honor for consecutive 3 semesters
During the fourth year my studio projects was featured in 2021 Virtual Art & Architecture Student's Exhibition and the 2021 "Challenge and Opportunity" Exhibition in Shanghai.
The 19th Asian Design Award, Award
Excellence Award in Cultural Space Category
Project name: Soundscape, collaborated with Ziyi Zhou, adviced by Fei Wang
