Wen Zhan

I'm Wen (she/they), an interdisciplinary designer and researcher working across human-computer interaction, participatory design, and social innovation. My research explores how emerging technologies can be designed with and for people in inclusive and socially meaningful ways.

I've worked with NGOs, museums, academic institutions, and local communities, collaborating with designers, social workers, robotics researchers, AI scientists, and medical professionals. My socially engaged practice has led to practical outcomes, including a desk system that was mass-produced and donated to children living in subdivided flats in Hong Kong. My work has also received recognition, including the Red Dot Award, and has been exhibited in Hong Kong, Eindhoven, London, Hangzhou, and Shenzhen.

At KTH, my research draws on feminist theory and embodied approaches to explore mobility and ageing through the co-design of wearable soft robotics with older adults. I'm a PhD student supervised by Madeline Balaam and Marianela Ciolfi Felice.

I hold an MA in Design Futures from the Royal College of Art in London and a BA in Product Design from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. 

More of my work can be found on my website.

Updates

Jun 28-Jul 2, 2027
I’m part of the organising team for DIS2027, hosted by KTH in Stockholm!