Meet the Class of 2025

Ningfu (Nymph) Yang Born and raised in Beijing, Ningfu Yang earned her bachelor’s degree in Engineering at the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology. During her time in university, Ningfu studied product and industrial design abroad at Central

Ningfu (Nymph) Yang

Born and raised in Beijing, Ningfu Yang earned her bachelor’s degree in Engineering at the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology. During her time in university, Ningfu studied product and industrial design abroad at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, which led her to collaborate with IBM on various projects and consult SPRG as a visual designer. Her interest in product interaction has led her to many conferences and competitions, having won prizes at the National Computer Competition for Colleges and Universities (NCCCU), Beijing University Industrial Design Competition and achieving final selection at the International Design Awards (IDA). To Ningfu, design is a way to live and communicate with the world and she hopes to explore more diversified and wonderful interactive methodologies during her time at PoD.

Website: designlabnymph.com

Emma Brigaud Emma Brigaud was born in France and raised in Princeton, New Jersey. She graduated from William & Mary where she double majored in French and Marketing. Prior to joining PoD, she was a Senior Creative Strategist for The Snow Agency.

Emma Brigaud

Emma Brigaud was born in France and raised in Princeton, New Jersey. She graduated from William & Mary where she double majored in French and Marketing. Prior to joining PoD, she was a Senior Creative Strategist for The Snow Agency. Outside of work, she serves on the Economic Development and Land Use committees for the Princeton Master Plan. Shaped by her Franco-American background, Emma loves to explore dualities in designing public art installations: considering placemaking for physical and digital, urban and natural environments. Awarded the Presidential Scholarship and Media Assistantship, Emma is excited to leverage her expertise in social media marketing at PoD.

Website: emmabrigaud.com

Yifan Zhang Yifan Zhang studied Communication Design at RMIT University (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) where she obtained a Destination graduation certificate. Yifan has worked as an Art Editor at ELLE magazine, developing a unique und

Yifan Zhang

Yifan Zhang studied Communication Design at RMIT University (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) where she obtained a Destination graduation certificate. Yifan has worked as an Art Editor at ELLE magazine, developing a unique understanding of aesthetics and design. During her undergraduate studies, she became deeply interested in the psychological direction of toy design and speculative design, exploring how design and psychology can be combined to create works with a greater therapeutic function.

Website: yifanz96.com

Jingyi (Jin) Zhu Originally from Jiangxi province, Jingyi Zhu holds an undergraduate degree in Furniture Design and Engineering at Nanjing Forestry University. Jingyi enjoys working with her hands and has aspirations of expanding her brand throug

Jingyi (Jin) Zhu

Originally from Jiangxi province, Jingyi Zhu holds an undergraduate degree in Furniture Design and Engineering at Nanjing Forestry University. Jingyi enjoys working with her hands and has aspirations of expanding her brand through innovative entrepreneurship and product commercialization.

Erica Fink Erica Fink calls Brooklyn and Virginia home. Continually curious, she views design as the most satisfying form of problem solving. Erica earned her BA from the University of Virginia in Global Environmental Sustainability and subsequen

Erica Fink

Erica Fink calls Brooklyn and Virginia home. Continually curious, she views design as the most satisfying form of problem solving. Erica earned her BA from the University of Virginia in Global Environmental Sustainability and subsequently completed a fellowship accelerator for social entrepreneurs. From there, she joined a startup nonprofit which worked to center the voices of those with lived experiences of an issue in designing solutions and policy. Most recently, she has worked in an innovation lab, as a digital product designer and is a member of Design Advocates in NYC.

Website: ericafink.com

Yining (Elaine) Gao Yining Gao studied Industrial Design with a minor in Computer Science at the South China University of Technology. Yining has also served as a CMF designer at a toothbrush company during which she completed color, material and

Yining (Elaine) Gao

Yining Gao studied Industrial Design with a minor in Computer Science at the South China University of Technology. Yining has also served as a CMF designer at a toothbrush company during which she completed color, material and surface process proposals for toothbrushes and water flossers while supervising mould opening and production. Yining is eager to explore CMF design and loves trying new approaches.

Website: yininggao.com

Harsha Pillai Harsha Pillai is a multidisciplinary designer who hopes to bring more joy and universal design principles to everyday experiences. Born in Switzerland and raised in Germany to Indian immigrant parents, Harsha is a proud “third-cult

Harsha Pillai

Harsha Pillai is a multidisciplinary designer who hopes to bring more joy and universal design principles to everyday experiences. Born in Switzerland and raised in Germany to Indian immigrant parents, Harsha is a proud “third-culture kid.” Harsha completed her undergraduate studies with a professional degree in Architecture from Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). During her time there, Harsha co-founded an art zine, Cumulus, and was involved in running the college art gallery. Before joining the MFA Products of Design program, Harsha worked as an architectural intern at OKW Architects in Chicago.

Website: harshapillai.com

Zhiwen (Kira) Fu Kira is an industrial designer who studied International Media before switching to Industrial Design at Auburn University. Her portfolio is multi-faceted as she has experience working on a variety of projects to further accessib

Zhiwen (Kira) Fu

Kira is an industrial designer who studied International Media before switching to Industrial Design at Auburn University. Her portfolio is multi-faceted as she has experience working on a variety of projects to further accessibility and inclusivity. Most recently, she collaborated as a group member of an amusement park project for PlayCore, designing entertainment and play structures for children. Prior to her work at Playcore, Zhiwen worked as a product designer for Knows sunglasses, modeling and rendering for a user-friendly experience.

Website: kirafudesign.com

Jiaqi Gu Jiaqi Gu studied at Tianjin University in China and received an honors degree in Industrial Design with a minor in Industrial Engineering. He has received the 2022 IF Design Talent Award Shortlist (Top 300) and the Yellow River Award. Af

Jiaqi Gu

Jiaqi Gu studied at Tianjin University in China and received an honors degree in Industrial Design with a minor in Industrial Engineering. He has received the 2022 IF Design Talent Award Shortlist (Top 300) and the Yellow River Award. After graduating, Jiaqi participated in the Interactive Design Summer School at Tongji University while designing “cultural products” for the Starbucks Heritage Project. Fascinated by physical interaction and behavioral economics, he hopes to expand the impact of design through multidisciplinary intersection and explore interactive products under the fusion of a new generation of AI.

Website: jiaqidesign.com

Tao Tao Holmes Tao Tao Holmes grew up in a very old house, in a very rural part of New England. An only child in the middle of nowhere, she subsisted on creative hijinx, none of which can be explained succinctly. After studying writing at Yale, s

Tao Tao Holmes

Tao Tao Holmes grew up in a very old house, in a very rural part of New England. An only child in the middle of nowhere, she subsisted on creative hijinx, none of which can be explained succinctly. After studying writing at Yale, she spent a year teaching English a few miles from the Eurasian Pole of Inaccessibility. After a motorcycle accident forced her back to the US, she found her professional home at Atlas Obscura, founding the trips department and taking the curious on unusual outdoor adventures. Having self-medicated with animation and illustration throughout the pandemic, she’s giddy to explore at PoD.

Website: taotaoholmes.com

Yuancong Jing Yuancong Jing is from Xi'an, Shaanxi and came to the United States in 2019 to study Industrial Design at Auburn University in Alabama. During his studies, Yuancong participated in the design of outdoor fire pits and outdoor furnitu

Yuancong Jing

Yuancong Jing is from Xi'an, Shaanxi and came to the United States in 2019 to study Industrial Design at Auburn University in Alabama. During his studies, Yuancong participated in the design of outdoor fire pits and outdoor furniture while supporting the Aptar Company in designing medical packaging and bottles.

Website: axisesdesign.webflow.io

Hyotae (Haley) Kim Raised in Korea and Canada, Haley Kim earned her bachelor’s degree studying Metals, Jewelry, and Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing at Temple University. Beyond her expertise in this field, Haley has gained valuable work e

Hyotae (Haley) Kim

Raised in Korea and Canada, Haley Kim earned her bachelor’s degree studying Metals, Jewelry, and Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing at Temple University. Beyond her expertise in this field, Haley has gained valuable work experience in both fashion and IT industries which informs her approach to both challenge and opportunity. Haley remains committed to pushing artistic boundaries and finds inspiration in her multicultural experiences. At MFA Products of Design, Haley is eager to explore living systems and their role in interactivity and sustainable design.

Website: haleykimdesigns.com

Yining (Jinny) Zhang Yining “Jinny” Zhang received a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication Design at the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, awarded the title of Outstanding Graduate. Jinny has served as team leader and designer of Beijin

Yining (Jinny) Zhang

Yining “Jinny” Zhang received a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication Design at the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, awarded the title of Outstanding Graduate. Jinny has served as team leader and designer of Beijing Design Week, during which they reported research results in the China Millennium Memorial Hall and facilitated the practice of New Year pictures. Yining has received many academic and design accolades, including excellent exhibition work in the packaging design category. Jining has also served as Minister of the Student Union, cadre of the Red Cross and as a volunteer for the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Website: sealion-badger-s4lr.squarespace.com

Zai Thakoor Zai Thakoor is a visual designer from Mumbai with a graduate degree in graphic design from MIT Institute of Design in Pune, India. Her passion for brand strategy led her to Anomaly Brands, where she worked as a designer, creating mult

Zai Thakoor

Zai Thakoor is a visual designer from Mumbai with a graduate degree in graphic design from MIT Institute of Design in Pune, India. Her passion for brand strategy led her to Anomaly Brands, where she worked as a designer, creating multilingual narratives for food retail and hospitality entities. She continues to work as a part of the Womxn’s Mobility Project which seeks to amplify the realities of non-binary, trans, and womxn in online and urban public spaces throughout India.

Website: zaithakoor.com

Vanishree Gandhi Vani grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and Delhi, India. As an undergraduate student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), she focused on learning fabrication techniques for sculpture and furniture making, specifical

Vanishree Gandhi

Vani grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and Delhi, India. As an undergraduate student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), she focused on learning fabrication techniques for sculpture and furniture making, specifically woodworking and metalworking. Through sculpture, she visually questioned a chosen object's material choices, size, rigidity, structure, placement, function, and recognizability. As an undergraduate student, Vani worked as an Exhibitions Assistant at the Chicago Artists Coalition, an Instructional Assistant at 280 Woodshop and Metalshop, and a Gallery Technician at SAIC Student Galleries. At MFA Products of Design, she uses these questions and their answers to prototype innovative products. Vani's thesis explores how physical products can provide solutions to daily mental health challenges.

Website: vanigandhi.com