Wen Zhan

Wen is an award-winning interdisciplinary designer and researcher with a focus on human-computer interaction and co-design. Their work, which has received honors such as the Red Dot Award, has been exhibited internationally in Hong Kong, Eindhoven, London, and Shenzhen. Their research explores the intersection of participatory design, activism, and social innovation, with a particular interest in how emerging technologies can be designed with and for people in more inclusive and socially meaningful ways.

Wen has collaborated with NGOs, museums, and academic institutions, building collaborative cultures and tools that empower end users and stakeholders to shape design decisions. Their impact-driven practice combines participatory action research, speculative design, and critical theory to foster collective inquiry and long-term engagement.

At KTH, Wen works on designing wearable soft robotics with and for older adults, drawing on participatory design, feminist theory, and embodied approaches to explore mobility and ageing. Their research is supervised by Madeline Balaam and Marianela Ciolfi Felice.