Victoria is an experience designer with a background in research. Upon receiving her BS in Computational Media from Georgia Tech, she worked in the tech industry as an experience designer for ThoughtWorks, a tech consulting company focusing on social and economic justice. There, she worked on various projects from exploring the futures of tele-health to helping large financial institutions keep better track of their clients and regulations. Victoria also started Black Designers in Tech NYC—a Meetup group for black designers to connect with each other. Her upbringing in New York has helped shape her passion for design and creativity and she hopes to learn how to use design to solve societal issues and provide access to marginalized groups.

Anna grew up in Toronto where she studied Industrial Design at Carleton University. During her undergraduate education she learned more about design, and how it has influenced cultures, communities and our daily habits. Anna is experienced in 3D modeling, collaboration, and graphic design and has worked for design agencies in Hong Kong, Toronto and New York, including Design Exchange, Tink Labs, Kerr Smith Design, and Karim Rashid Studios. Anna is attending the Products of Design program with the intention of learning from her peers, professors and the people of New York so that she can look at design through a different lens.

Helen is a multidisciplinary designer from Shanghai and New York. She has a BA in Art History and East Asian Studies from Columbia University. Over the last five years, she has worked in the fields of fine arts, architecture, graphic and experience design. Helen worked on the project management team at Bjarke Ingels Group that designed the Google Campus in Mountain View, California, and was also part of the in-house digital media team at SOM. As a graphic and UX designer, she has worked for several clients, including Vox Media and Crunch Fitness. As a passion project, Helen runs Lady Marmalade Studio, where she creates artisanal jams and produces pop-up food experiences. The diversity in her life and work experiences have deeply influenced her human-centered design approach, and her ability to problem-solve.

Stephanie is a designer in New York City with eight years of experience in the women’s apparel industry. She received her BFA in Apparel Design from the Rhode Island School of Design, where she expanded her fine art skills and built a solid foundation in design thinking and making. Stephanie's work experience includes being the lead designer for the luxury activewear brand Tory Sport, designer for Converse Apparel - Nike Inc., as well as a freelance designer for industry giants Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and the Gap. Stephanie loves to travel and learn about food, art, and design around the world. One of her most memorable travel experiences was to Oaxaca, Mexico where she participated in a Spanish-instructional artist residency with the Arquetopia Foundation and learned traditional backstrap loom weaving techniques from local master weavers.

Bart Haney learned the ins and outs of design and development by starting his own collaborative business called Superhappybunny, a LA-based design studio, where he is the lead product designer and business development coordinator, and has worked with clients such as BMW, Virgin, PixelBlocks, Toyota, Verizon, and Coca Cola. Bart has also worked as a product designer for the renowned design studios Fuseproject and Sterling Brands. A Nebraska native and an ARTCENTER alum, his career has focused on integrating his skill of translating product strategy into reality, as well as leading teams of specialists through coordinated exercises around ideation, presentation and market launch. Bart’s personal crusade to find an engaging and meaningful vector to push into has led him to the Products of Design program at SVA. What comes next, only the future knows.

Felix grew up in Taiwan and received his BA in Industrial Design at Shi Chien University. He worked as a product designer for MIT Legend, a product design studio in Taipei, where he gained experience in product manufacturing and materials processing. Through MIT Legend, his design works have been sold to companies such as The Container Store, John Lewis, and Hola. Felix looks forward to learning more about design strategy and technology application related to design in order to become a stronger designer.

Seona’s work focuses on the intersection of design and city planning, architecture, health, and human interaction. She was born and raised in Seoul, and moved to the US to study Public Health and Urban Studies at College of William and Mary in Virginia. After graduating, Seona worked for Maga Design and Lewin Group in Washington, DC, focusing on design strategy and data visualization. At Products of Design, Seona is excited to explore the role of design in both digital and physical forms, and its integral relationship to social responsibility. When she’s not in the studio, Seona can be found salsa dancing, exploring pop-up exhibitions or cultural events, or experimenting with homemade rice wine recipes.

Yuko was born and raised in Palo Alto, California. She studied Psychology and Gender Studies at UC Davis before moving to New York to study Fashion Design at FIT. She has five years of of experience in the fashion industry as a womenswear developer serving various sample studios and luxury womenswear brands such as Adam Lippes and Rosie Assoulin. Yuko is greatly influenced by her Japanese-American upbringing, feminism, music, and queer subcultures, and she is excited to expand on the scope of her design work by investigating products and experiences in unfamiliar territories. At Products of Design, Yuko hopes to develop the skills and vocabulary to address the needs within various intersections of identity.

Leng grew up in China and graduated from the Xiamen Academy of Arts and Design, Fuzhou University with a Bachelor's in Product Design. Her passions include industrial design, interactive art, and painting. In addition to art and design, Leng likes to dance and travel. Her travel experiences include hiking in the Himalayas, diving in Malaysia, and selling handmade products on the streets of Italy. She enjoys the process of exploration, and is generally curious about everything, which inspires her design and art.

Shin Young is a multidisciplinary designer from South Korea. She majored in Economics in Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, where she won the Dongbu Financial Essay Competition for writing her thesis on policies to eradicate insurance fraud in South Korea. She also interned with the consumer goods team at KPR, a leading Korean PR consultancy. Shin Young noticed that she could not stop researching and designing solutions to improve certain societal aspects, so she decided to pursue a masters degree in design. She is excited to merge her background with the knowledge and experience she will receive in the MFA Products of Design program. When she’s not designing or doodling, Shin Young can be found learning new languages and playing musical instruments.

Born and raised in Tehran, Iran, Pantea completed her Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering at Azad University of Roudehen. After immigrating to the U.S., she worked as a textile artist and a visual merchandiser for companies such as Target and Macy’s. Pantea's experience as a Middle Eastern woman shaped her identity as a designer, and believes that while she might not be able to fight the injustices of this world, she can use her design skills to help people who are struggling with it. Pantea is deeply passionate about sustainable design, and tries to practice a low-waste lifestyle–one plastic bottle at a time.

A native of New Jersey, Wes studied industrial design at Philadelphia University, where he tackled a range of projects from classic industrial design—including furniture, medical, and consumer goods—to projects in interaction design and graphic design. This exploration led to Wes finding his two main passions, physical computing and woodworking. His studies culminated in his thesis which focused on developing a prosthetic to better serve amputees who play field sports at a professional level. Wes was involved in freelance projects at MIO, a Philadelphia-based consultancy, for clients ranging from horticultural societies to multinational banks. After graduating, he briefly worked for Team Design Group, where he designed medical and consumer goods, an experience that served to deepen his understanding of the relationship between business and design.

Prior to joining the Products of Design program, Ted served in the United States Army, where he was a team leader in the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. He then attended Columbia University, where he worked as a research assistant for the Saltzman Institute of War and Peace studies and studied coalition building in the Global War on Terror, and completed his undergraduate degree in Political Science. Ted has worked for the Warrior-Scholar Project—a non-profit that helps military service members transition to higher education by hosting academic boot camps at universities around the country. Prior to moving to New York City, Ted was an avid mountaineer, and has ascended Mt. Rainier and Mt. Denali.

Catherine grew up in a Chinese-American household in Atlanta, Georgia. Her interest in Asian cultures, inspired in part by her heritage, led her to pursue a BA in Japanese Language and Literature, minoring in Fine Arts and East Asian Studies at Washington University, St. Louis. Upon graduation, she moved into the healthcare field, and worked for iResearch Atlanta—coordinating psychiatric medication trials and establishing the quality assurance department in charge of company’s internal auditing. Catherine intends to combine her desire to aid humanity with creativity and analysis to form an interdisciplinary, thoughtful design practice. She is eager to learn more about the human condition, explore different materials and methods of thinking, and discover ways to mitigate waste.

Born and raised in south of China, Yufei obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from University of Science & Technology Beijing. She had the opportunity of being an exchange student at Arizona State University, where she enrolled in several industrial design courses. She has a strong passion for user experience, design strategy and designing for people with disabilities. Most recently, she worked at LKK in China, consulting on product design and manufacturing for clients including Alibaba and Geberit. Yufei looks forward to learning new perspectives and expanding her creative and business skills at Products of Design.

Sherry was born and raised in Beijing, China. She completed her undergraduate studies in Engineering and Industrial Design at China Agricultural University. In her senior year, she accepted an internship position at Studio715, a design studio in Beijing, where she gained experience making products including a series of lamps. This internship inspired Sherry to further her education in design—a field she regards as a combination of art, technology, business, and a reflection of culture. She is excited to start her new journey at Products of Design.

Yi-Hsuan Yang was born in Taipei, Taiwan. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from Tatung University. She has a strong passion for design strategy, development and data analysis. She is also interested in narrative movies and has created short films and advertisements. Her short films have been screened at exhibitions such as the Yodex Young Designers Exhibition. Yi-Hsuan wants to continue to make an effort to balance the value of design and business at the MFA Products of Design program.

Born in Hangzhou, China, Hui completed his undergraduate degree in Industrial Design at Xian Jiaotong Liverpool University. He interned as a product designer at Benwu Studio in Shanghai, where he worked on two projects—the Egg House Shanghai and AirBorne. Hui was responsible for the installations, from concept to fabrication, including sketching, 3D modeling and drawing. Hui enjoys games, especially Metal Gear Solid by world-renowned game director and design Hideo Kojima. He believes that some of the philosophies in game design can also be applied to designing great products.

Born and raised in Madrid, Spain, Eugenia completed her BA in Product Design at Instituto Europe di Design (IED Madrid). After graduating, she worked as the assistant to the head designer for Johnpepe, a small design firm in Madrid. That experience gave her great insight into what it takes to build her own studio, along with the limitations attached to it. At a young age, she attended boarding school in Scotland, where she lived with people from various countries, and was exposed to the differences in culture that we have to consider when confronting any project. As she starts her journey through the MFA Products of Design program, she is hoping to be able to address complex situations within our society in a way that can make an impact in the lifestyle and principles that we have today, in order to face a better tomorrow.

Website: eramosalonso.com

Ben attended Western University in his hometown of London, Ontario, where he majored in English Language and Literature, and minored in French studies. He realized his passion for design in the final years of his undergrad while studying seventeenth-century country house poetry and its relationship to the prevailing architecture of the time. Ben then tried his hand at furniture design and continued to explore other areas of design—particularly product design. He has designed products using waste materials, and has written about developing innovative material for outdoor clothing. He has also worked for companies such as Grizzly Carpentry and TBI Irrigation. In his spare time, Ben enjoys reading books, playing adventure sports, and spending time with his family.

Website: benbartlett.net

John was born in Sugar Land, Texas, and has always been a creative person, constantly seeking new ways to express himself. He studied Telecommunications and Graphic Design at Texas A&M University. He then worked as a graphic artist for local companies, such as Signet Interactive, Landry's Inc., and Drifting Creatives, LLC. His work there included branding for rock bands, developing user interfaces for private universities, and creating collateral for local restaurants. A self professed jack-of-all-trades, John loves learning new skills and applying them to everything he touches. At the MFA Products of Design department, he hopes to learn much from those around him, and explore as far and wide as possible. Being a type I diabetic, he hopes to apply this knowledge in the fields of medical design. As a Houston native, he is also interested in space exploration.

Website: johnboranjr.com

Zihan grew up in Kunshan, a highly developed city in China. He earned his BA from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville. Prior to joining the Products of Design program, he founded his own company SECStudio, which specializes in app development. Zihan is also an avid inventor and has patents (both granted and pending) for several of his inventions, which include an energy saving faucet and a pairing method for near-field electronic devices. He has also competed in and won several awards, such as the Red Dot Design Concept and Communication Design Awards, The One Show /Young Ones Competition, C/I Transit Advertising Design Contest, Coca Cola Innovation and Design Contest, and the Graphis Poster Annual. Zihan is also a licensed pilot and enjoys flying planes in his free time.

Website: thatishim.com

Gustav was born and raised in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he served in the army as a Royal Guard to the Danish Royal family. He later obtained his B.Sc in Digital Media and Design at the IT University of Copenhagen. As a student, he designed an app in collaboration with Volkswagen to identify technical issues with cars for both customers and mechanics. He was also employed by Maersk, for whom he developed and digitized the on-boarding and off-boarding processes of their employees. Now, Gustav is looking forward to getting his hands dirty, expanding his creative skills, and immersing himself into the impressive Products of Design community.

Website: gustavdyrhauge.com

Kevin grew up in Montreal, Canada and studied entrepreneurship before he realized his vocation in design. A self-taught industrial designer, Kevin has over 3+ years of industry practice. He’s worked on a wide range of products including footwear, furniture, sporting goods and consumer electronics. He is the founder of Socialight, an interactive lighting company that helps users manage device time and stay present. Kevin is most interested in how human-centred design can give shape to today's ever-changing technology landscape. Most recently, he’s been working at Sid Lee helping clients like Samsung and Videotron develop their digital experiences.

Website: kevincook.co

Tzu-Ching is from Taipei, Taiwan, where he majored in Industrial Design in Tatung University. He is an aesthetic and culture enthusiast. Having a strong passion for ancient eastern wisdom and admiring the elegance of western culture, he wants to combine the two different cultures into a whole new point of view, and eagerly wants to show the world how he perceives it. Regarding technology, he thinks developers have overlooked the key elements of what makes us a human—a social animal that needs to bond and build relationships between one another. So he decided to use what he has learned and what he's going to learn to make the world a better place—to change human beings' behavior. In his free time, Tzu Ching enjoys playing basketball, watching fashion shows, playing chess (Japanese chess—Go), and playing the violin.

Website: tzuchinglin.com

Micah was born and raised in the U.S., and has moved around various states throughout his life. In addition to being musically trained and talented, his exposure to fine arts and graphic design at a young age helped him to develop a passion and creative eye for design. He attended school at Gordon College in Massachusetts, where he earned a BFA with a concentration in Graphic Design. At school, he was encouraged to explore multiple media such as pencil, chalk, and clay to advance his understanding of other art forms, composition, and aesthetics. He had an apprenticeship with designer Brad Zimmerman, with whom he designed videos, animated slide shows and printed materials for Watermark Church. With the help of the MFA Products of Design program, Micah hopes to expand his knowledge and design process.

Website: micahlynndesign.com

Sophie is an industrial designer with a passion for Graphic Design and Technology. She was born and raised in Queretaro, Mexico, where she completed her undergraduate studies at Monterrey's Institute of Technology, majoring in Industrial Design and minoring in Graphic Design. After graduating, she worked as graphic designer for Juriquilla, a local health and lifestyle magazine. She also freelanced for a variety of clients—ranging from rock-metal bands like Jake's Metal to music academies such as Academia de Musica Curiel, and local health specialists. Looking to expand her business experience, she then worked in logistics at Cristina Ramella—a world and travel inspired jewelry brand. When she is not designing, you can find her baking, going on a long walk, or doodling at the park.

Website: sophiecarrillo.com

Born in Moscow and raised in Saigon, Phuong Anh became an avid believer in human-centred design and design thinking after her studies and work in the U.S. She obtained her B.S. in Advertising at Boston University, and swiftly ventured into UX design to work with Eli Graphics, Boston University's AdLab and Potoo LLC, where she scrutizined user behaviours. She also interned as a PR specialist for T&A Ogilvy—an advertising/PR agency in Vietnam. The gap she sees between the product and the user can be remedied with the running revolution in design, and she wants to be part of it. During the next two years, Phuong Anh seeks to combine design thinking, doing and making to show sympathy to the user and the environment, and to find innovation in the interactions of industries. Her ultimate goal is to serve humans with the products we truly need for a completely sustainable future.

Website: anhngp.com

A native Californian, André is a trained writer with a background in digital marketing and advertising. Upon receiving his BA in Literature from Pepperdine University in Malibu, he designed and implemented marketing campaigns for Kia, the Boys and Girls Club, Bambino, Tiger Pistol, Little Quest, and Dose of Divine—specializing in analytics and digital strategy. He is wildly passionate about mentoring and serving youth, and has worked with organizations like Americorps, the Boys & Girls Club, and the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University. He hopes to expand his experience as a mentor to create opportunities in design for youth. André is also a self-professed petrolhead, and will happily talk cars with anyone willing to listen. He is pursuing design with the hopes of removing barriers and providing design opportunities to those who may not have easy access.

Website: andreorta.com

Hannah comes fresh out of Cornell University, where she earned her BS in Mechanical Engineering. She discovered her place in the design world while working as an engineering intern at Cascade Designs in Seattle, where she helped develop systems to provide clean drinking water in disaster relief settings. She has also been a professional outdoor educator for the past six years. Most recently, Hannah worked with Cornell Outdoor Education as a lead facilitator for the Cornell Team and Leadership Center (CTLC), where she designed experiences for clients to allow them to achieve personal and group development goals. As a designer, she is enticed by creating products and experiences that are "good" in every sense of the word, and by making the outdoors more accessible to us all.

Website: hannahrudin.me

Carly begins her new adventure in New York City by way of her hometown, Canandaigua, NY. She graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where she expanded her interest in design through Architectural Studies. She developed her desire to use design as a medium to connect cultures while participating in a specialized study program in Rome, Italy, where she studied architectural sketching and art history. Prior to joining Products of Design, Carly worked with furniture designer/maker Patrick Kana in Geneva, NY, and for nationally recognized non-profit, Second Nature, in Boston, MA. Carly’s passions for service and design attracted her to this MFA program, and she is excited for opportunities to prioritize and address social justice issues.

Website: carly-simmons.com

Born and raised in Dalian, China, Xuan received her undergraduate degree in biotechnology from Dalian University of Technology. She was supposed to continue learning cellular biology at Xiamen University, but then decided to explore product design instead. She believes that designers are problem solvers, and that she will foster the skills needed to become one in the MFA Products of Design program. This is a fantastic start for her in design, and she intends to earn more skills and knowledge to become a mature designer.

Website: wangqixuandesigning.com

Wei was born in Beijing, China. He obtained his bachelors degree in Industrial Design from Beijing University of Technology. During his studies, he participated in and won design competitions, including the Red Dot Design Award and Hyundai Car Design Competition. After graduating, he travelled to Germany, where he learned German and further immersed himself in European product design. He is now pursuing his masters in the MFA Products of Design department, where he is looking forward to learning new perspectives.

Website: weirunshi.com

Born and raised in Wenzhou, China, Yangying was exposed to art at an early age. She attended the affiliated middle school of China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, where she practiced sketching, painting, shaping and composition. She then pursued her undergraduate studies at the China Academy of Art in Shanghai. During her time there, she studied product design—with a focus on incorporating indigenous Chinese art in product design. Her ideology is to generate rich, spiritual and meaningful lifestyles by combining design and experiences. Prior to joining this program, she participated in SVA's CDFNY Summer Program for International Students. Over the next two years, she wants to develop her business and design skills so that she can establish her own design firm in the future.

Website: yangyingye.com