Meet the Class of 2026

Gudrun Tholl Torfadottir Gudrun was born and raised in Iceland. Ever since she was a kid, she’s been sketching imaginary robots and coming up with clever ways to solve everyday problems. Inspired by the world of Iron Man, she went on to earn a Ba

Gudrun Tholl Torfadottir

Gudrun was born and raised in Iceland. Ever since she was a kid, she’s been sketching imaginary robots and coming up with clever ways to solve everyday problems. Inspired by the world of Iron Man, she went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Mechatronics Engineering from Reykjavik University, where she explored projects in home automation and service design. This past summer, Gudrun interned at 10xBeta in Brooklyn as a Creative Technologist, helping to build early-stage prototypes and bring ideas to life through hardware, firmware, and software. She worked closely with designers and engineers to test concepts, create mockups, and explore how technology can enhance the way we interact with products. At MFA Products of Design, Gudrun is exploring how robotics can make everyday life at home easier and smarter from assistive devices to furniture that generates energy. She’s interested in designing technology that feels seamless, thoughtful, and part of our daily routines.

Sofia Grytsenko Sofia is a product designer, joy enthusiast, and lifelong lover of all things cute. Growing up just across the river from New York City they developed an early curiosity about how design can turn everyday moments into something s

Sofia Grytsenko

Sofia is a product designer, joy enthusiast, and lifelong lover of all things cute. Growing up just across the river from New York City they developed an early curiosity about how design can turn everyday moments into something special. Sofia earned their degree in Human-Centered Computing from the Rochester Institute of Technology, where they also studied Web Development and Psychology, exploring how empathy and technology shape meaningful experiences. Sofia began their professional journey as a User Experience Design Intern at QuidelOrtho, and later joined Continual Care Solutions as a Quality Assurance Analyst, helping nonprofits strengthen their impact through digital tools. Beyond product design, Sofia channels their creativity into community projects like The Lucky Flea and WSVA Radio, and co-founded Okio, a merchandising studio that produces design-forward goods celebrating everyday joy. Sofia’s current thesis research explores how emotion-driven spatial and experience design can make happiness more accessible, proving that good design doesn’t just solve problems, it sparks joy.

Danli (Rida) Zeng Rida is a strategist and multidisciplinary designer who earned her Bachelor’s degree in Classical Studies from the University of Chicago. Her education and experience span the humanities, business strategy, and the arts, giving

Danli (Rida) Zeng

Rida is a strategist and multidisciplinary designer who earned her Bachelor’s degree in Classical Studies from the University of Chicago. Her education and experience span the humanities, business strategy, and the arts, giving her a broad perspective on design. She contributed to a food brand incubation project at DiDi R-Lab and worked as a Summer Analyst at OneDegree, assessing market entry opportunities and strategic growth potential. Rida’s chronic health condition and long-standing interest in drawing have shaped her empathetic approach and inventive thinking. She also has experience volunteering as a user researcher for NGOs supporting vulnerable communities. Rida was part of the winning team at the 2025 ICFF Wanted Design Workshop for their proposal Re Compost, which explored circular design solutions for food waste. Her thesis research investigates self-creation through metaphorical structures—examining how design can help people with compromised agency due to chronic pain, illness, or trauma navigate extreme ambiguities in life.

Benjamin (Ben) Hone Ben was raised in New Jersey by two architects who instilled in him a deep appreciation for design. In high school, he attended The Island School in The Bahamas, where he developed a lasting connection to the ocean. He earned

Benjamin (Ben) Hone

Ben was raised in New Jersey by two architects who instilled in him a deep appreciation for design. In high school, he attended The Island School in The Bahamas, where he developed a lasting connection to the ocean. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Miami and built a career in brand marketing strategy. While working at Universal McCann, Ben consulted Fortune 500 clients on how consumers adopt emerging technology. He has also volunteered with environmental nonprofits focused on technology, education, communications, and policy. At MFA Products of Design, Ben is pursuing the goal of designing for a post-petroleum economy. His current thesis explores how the collective power of sports fandom can be mobilized to address the climate crisis, drawing on principles of biomimicry, resilience, and sustainable materials.

Sophia Haase Sophia is a multimedia artist and designer from Rochester, New York. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Digital Media and Fine Art, with a minor in Art History, from Marist College. Her creative practice spans printmaking, sculpture

Sophia Haase

Sophia is a multimedia artist and designer from Rochester, New York. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Digital Media and Fine Art, with a minor in Art History, from Marist College. Her creative practice spans printmaking, sculpture, bookbinding, and graphic design, reflecting her interest in the dialogue between craft and concept. Before joining MFA Products of Design, Sophia worked as an assistant at the Steel Plant Art Gallery in Poughkeepsie, New York, where she helped install exhibitions and manage lighting for monthly shows. She now works as an Exhibition Assistant across the SVA galleries in New York City, experiences that have deepened her love of hands-on making and spatial design. Sophia’s current thesis research examines how nostalgia shapes design, exploring its impact on aesthetics, emotional connection, and longevity—what she describes as a pursuit of “sustainable nostalgia.”

Qi Guan Qi is a multidisciplinary designer from Beijing, China. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design with a minor in Japanese from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Her studies spanned biodesign, glass and jewelry design, an

Qi Guan

Qi is a multidisciplinary designer from Beijing, China. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design with a minor in Japanese from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Her studies spanned biodesign, glass and jewelry design, and visual communication, shaping a creative approach that bridges craft and technology. Passionate about the role of artificial intelligence in design, she has contributed to the development of AI-driven mobile and desktop products, gaining hands-on experience in AIGC and digital innovation. Collaborative and reflective in her practice, Qi enjoys working across disciplines to challenge assumptions and expand her design thinking. Her thesis, Designing for the True Self in a Post-Digital World, explores how minimalism can foster mental clarity and more meaningful living amid the noise of modern life.

Mo (Eva) Rongfengyan Eva grew up in Beijing and graduated from Alfred University with a BFA in Art and Design. Her creative practice bridges visual expression and product functionality, shaped by explorations in sculpture, graphic design, and sou

Mo (Eva) Rongfengyan

Eva grew up in Beijing and graduated from Alfred University with a BFA in Art and Design. Her creative practice bridges visual expression and product functionality, shaped by explorations in sculpture, graphic design, and sound art. While interning at China Guardian Auctions, she became fascinated by how design can strengthen emotional connections—between people, and between people and the objects that fill their lives. Now pursuing her MFA in Products of Design at SVA, Eva’s thesis research investigates how design can ease isolation among remote workers and foster new forms of tangible connection within an increasingly digital world.

Monty Preston Monty is a multimedia designer and curator. She was raised in Toronto and graduated summa cum laude with a BASc in Linguistics and Spanish from the University of Toronto. Monty worked at industry-disrupting startups including The Re

Monty Preston

Monty is a multimedia designer and curator. She was raised in Toronto and graduated summa cum laude with a BASc in Linguistics and Spanish from the University of Toronto. Monty worked at industry-disrupting startups including The RealReal in SF, BeautyPie in London, and Saatchi Art in LA—where she led Curation and Art Advisory under Rebecca Wilson. In 2022, she founded a creative production consultancy in the web3 space, leading initiatives including the launch of Ledger’s digital art programs in Paris. She served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Boys Club Zine, and designs crypto-forward fashion accessories. Her current thesis research investigates our dependence on technology and explores wetland conservation in urban environments.

Haosen Zhang Haosen is a multidisciplinary designer from Shanxi, China. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Nottingham, where an Aerospace Design and Manufacturing class allowed him to explore his creat

Haosen Zhang

Haosen is a multidisciplinary designer from Shanxi, China. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Nottingham, where an Aerospace Design and Manufacturing class allowed him to explore his creative side by designing experimental airplane parts. With a strong foundation in technical engineering, a distinctive illustration style, and comprehensive 3D design skills, Haosen is now pursuing industrial design to further develop his creative expression and sense of humor through his work. Haosen's current thesis explores opportunities to combine nature, music, and technology for therapeutic purposes, investigating how design can support well-being and multisensory experiences.

Shiyu (Lynn) Zhang Lynn is from Beijing, China, and earned her undergraduate degree in Animation from the California College of the Arts. Before joining PoD, she worked as a taxidermist and toy prototype developer in Shanghai, where she created s

Shiyu (Lynn) Zhang

Lynn is from Beijing, China, and earned her undergraduate degree in Animation from the California College of the Arts. Before joining PoD, she worked as a taxidermist and toy prototype developer in Shanghai, where she created several toys licensed by Universal Studios. Combining her knowledge of anatomy, 3D modeling, and character design, Lynn explores the intersection of art, science, and imagination. Her creative philosophy centers on breathing new life into the inanimate, giving form to the fantastical, and rendering the ephemeral eternal. Lynn sees MFA Products of Design as an exceptional platform for personal and professional growth, innovation, and collaboration. Her thesis explores why people deliberately seek physical pain and how design can reframe this impulse into meaningful, controlled, and emotionally supportive experiences.

Sige Zheng Sige is a product and UX designer based in New York City. Originally from China, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Photography from Wesleyan University in Connecticut. Before joining MFA Products of Design, she worked

Sige Zheng

Sige is a product and UX designer based in New York City. Originally from China, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Photography from Wesleyan University in Connecticut. Before joining MFA Products of Design, she worked as a UX designer for CVS Health and at an education startup using generative AI to expand student access to academic resources. Most recently, she was a UX Design Summer Intern at Noggin, designing a new app that helps children develop real-world skills through digital learning and play. Having collaborated across large and small teams to bring digital products to life, Sige continues to explore material innovation and tangible interactions in the fields of AI, mixed reality, and healthcare. Her thesis research focuses on designing for local communities in Puerto Escondido, Mexico, that are being impacted by the rise of digital nomads.

Lauren Palazzi Lauren was born in Toronto, Canada, and graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with a degree in Business Administration, concentrating in Business Sustainability. Prior to joining PoD, she worked as a Financial Analyst and Marke

Lauren Palazzi

Lauren was born in Toronto, Canada, and graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with a degree in Business Administration, concentrating in Business Sustainability. Prior to joining PoD, she worked as a Financial Analyst and Marketing Coordinator at Armour Cybersecurity. Outside of work, Lauren volunteers at galleries, helping design children's camps and assisting young artists. Driven by a lifelong passion for crafting and building, she is particularly interested in the intersection of nature and human-centered design, focusing on creating products and spaces that benefit both the environment and its inhabitants. Her current thesis research explores designing for permanence in an impermanent world—examining how emotional attachment to objects, both physical and digital, can foster more meaningful and enduring relationships between people and the things they keep.

Qianyue Zhou Qianyue is from Zhejiang, China, and earned her undergraduate degree in Strategic Design and Innovation from the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts. In 2018, she was selected for the Strategic Design and Innovation Studio—a collaborat

Qianyue Zhou

Qianyue is from Zhejiang, China, and earned her undergraduate degree in Strategic Design and Innovation from the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts. In 2018, she was selected for the Strategic Design and Innovation Studio—a collaboration between Apple design pioneer Hartmut Esslinger and the DeTao Academy—where she worked with industry leaders. She later interned at Kohler, gaining mentorship in product design, and went on to work as an industrial designer at a machinery company in Zhejiang. Her experience in brand communication and social media broadened her understanding of design’s cultural impact. After joining MFA Products of Design, she interned as a 3D motion designer at BeeBow Education, creating interactive room layouts and animations for online learning. Her work has received recognition including the Shanghai Design Annual 100+ and 3rd Prize in the China Brand Design Competition for Intangible Heritage. Qianyue’s thesis research explores how social media tools—such as likes, filters, and short videos—shape an idealized digital self, and how design can reconnect that identity to genuine social belonging in the physical world.

Christiana (Ana) Aghjayan Christiana is a first-generation American and designer from New Jersey. Growing up amid the hustle and bustle of her family’s jewelry manufacturing business, she developed an early fascination with how things are made an

Christiana (Ana) Aghjayan

Christiana is a first-generation American and designer from New Jersey. Growing up amid the hustle and bustle of her family’s jewelry manufacturing business, she developed an early fascination with how things are made and the systems behind production. Her curiosity led her to earn a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication from Florida International University, followed by a certificate in User Experience Design from General Assembly. Before joining the MFA Products of Design program, Christiana worked at BerlinRosen as an Account Coordinator for digital entertainment and gaming clients, where she helped shape press campaigns and creative strategy. Alongside her cohort member Sofia Grytsenko, she co-founded Okio, a merchandising studio creating playful, design-forward goods. Her current thesis research explores past technologies and their previous features, and the rise of “smart” objects, examining why even everyday tools are increasingly connected through screens and Bluetooth, asking how designers might reimagine technology’s role in daily life.

Qian (Jessie) Wang Jessie is a designer from Beijing, China. She earned her BFA in Interior Design from SVA before joining the MFA Products of Design program. Her work spans installation, product, furniture, and hospitality design, and has been e

Qian (Jessie) Wang

Jessie is a designer from Beijing, China. She earned her BFA in Interior Design from SVA before joining the MFA Products of Design program. Her work spans installation, product, furniture, and hospitality design, and has been exhibited at ICFF, the Venice Architecture Biennale, and the New York Eleven Plus (NY11+) Exhibition. Jessie’s designs have received a Special Mention in the Architizer A+ Awards, features in Interior Design magazine, and recognition from the SARA NY Design Awards. Her products have also been showcased at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame Museum. Jessie describes her work as fun-loving and emotionally resonant, often centered on her signature obsession: ketchup. Her ketchup-themed food landmark project earned the Neville Lewis Memorial Award Scholarship, was featured on Dezeen, and received recognition from the IDA Design Awards. Most recently, Jessie completed the full design and build of her own restaurant, Mt. ShooTao Hotpot, located in Midtown Manhattan. This experience deepened her interest in the intersection of food and design, leading her to focus her current thesis on the emotional and spatial experience of solo dining.

Tong Zhao Tong Zhao was born and raised in Beijing, China, and graduated from the Beijing Institute of Printing with a Bachelor's Degree in Digital Media Design. While achieving her undergraduate degree, Tong worked at a design firm in Beijing se

Tong Zhao

Tong Zhao was born and raised in Beijing, China, and graduated from the Beijing Institute of Printing with a Bachelor's Degree in Digital Media Design. While achieving her undergraduate degree, Tong worked at a design firm in Beijing serving a roster of clients including Lenovo, JNBJ, and Gatto-yoga. This experience opened her eyes to the collisions of design, life, and business. After graduating, Tong started her own design studio, offering design services to a range of clientele, including product appearance design and packaging design for a Chinese medical company, and packaging design for a food brand. She hopes that her work will create lasting change, generate new models of business, and integrate organically into the lives of her users.

Ta-Shea Brown Tashea is a New York-based multidisciplinary designer originally from Kingston, Jamaica. After receiving her BFA from The Cooper Union, she began her professional career at Champions Design in NY, and shortly after began teaching de

Ta-Shea Brown

Tashea is a New York-based multidisciplinary designer originally from Kingston, Jamaica. After receiving her BFA from The Cooper Union, she began her professional career at Champions Design in NY, and shortly after began teaching design at the Lower Eastside Girls Club. Each of these experiences gave life an entirely new meaning: it was during that time that Tashea developed a passion for serving people, making a change, and leaving a lasting impact. Before joining the MFA Products of Design program, Tashea’s focus was primarily on brand development, aiding organizations including Monkey Paw Productions and Color Of Change in crafting effective strategies and designs for social justice initiatives, fundraising, and membership growth.

Daniella (Carmel) Berg Carmel De Berg is an artist and designer from New Jersey, working to reconnect people with the materiality of the objects they use, and the context of the art/media they consume. She has spent the past decade designing ligh

Daniella (Carmel) Berg

Carmel De Berg is an artist and designer from New Jersey, working to reconnect people with the materiality of the objects they use, and the context of the art/media they consume. She has spent the past decade designing lighting for films and photography, with projects ranging from album covers, and national fashion campaigns, to films that have premiered at Tribeca Film Festival and SXSW. Her personal work in experimental film focuses on pieces that force the viewer to engage not just with the subject matter of the piece, but with the medium itself. She is most interested in how design can immediately influence the conditions of someone’s life, and how what is considered to be accessible design can be reimagined.

Carol (Zeyu) Tian Carol was born and raised in China. She began her studies in Pure Mathematics in California before transferring to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she earned dual degrees in Industrial Design and Studio Art, c

Carol (Zeyu) Tian

Carol was born and raised in China. She began her studies in Pure Mathematics in California before transferring to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she earned dual degrees in Industrial Design and Studio Art, concentrating in New Media and Fashion. Her work reflects a commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity in design. At MFA Products of Design, Carol continues to explore how design can engage broader audiences and create meaningful experiences, approaching each project with curiosity, care, and a focus on the ways design can connect people across disciplines and communities.