Category: Class Introductions

Born and raised in Chongqing, China, Aijun Jiang received his Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from Beijing University of Chemical Technology, where he studied in the Sino-Italian Cooperative Education Program with the University of Genoa.

My design practice spans product design, interaction, and service, with projects ranging from a pregnancy stretch mark antipruritic device to a modular furniture sofa series and a volunteering platform app.My independent project on a stretch mark relief device reflected my interest in user-centered research, material exploration, and prototyping.
I have been recognized with the Third Prize in the Beijing Region at the 7th Milan Design Week China Collegiate Design Competition & Exhibition.

I’m passionate about exploring how industrial design can integrate interaction, sustainability, and cultural perspectives.

I did my undergraduate studies in Product Design in China, where I focused on projects related to sustainability, user experience, and how design can respond to social and environmental issues.

I’m really excited about this course because I’ve always wanted to explore more about computer science and coding. I think combining technical skills with design can open up new ways of solving problems and creating meaningful experiences.

Outside of school, I love traveling and photography. I enjoy capturing natural landscapes and cultural moments during my trips, and those experiences often inspire my creative work.

Looking forward to learning with all of you and sharing ideas along the way!

Hello! This is Guangyu Wang(Zoe), a new graduate member in SVA. Before studying in the USA, I was born and raised in Beijing, China. Since growing up, I have always been interested in “broke” something and observing the contents inside a product. This supports my future direction in the product design field. Driven by a strong desire to delve deeper into this field, I chose to study at Syracuse for five years, and I recently graduated with a major in Industrial Design. Nonetheless, at the spare time I love snowboarding, traveling, and swimming etc.. Also, playing with lego often for fun. Overall, I am a person who really enjoying the life and making each day count. Besides, talking about what I expect in this course, I would love to learn the real code writing! Thank you!

Here is my Instagram: geminicreamcheese

Name: Wini Jeng

From: Taiwan / Queens

Before coming to PoD: Senior System Administrator at the School of Visual Arts (SVA), BFA Animation department.

Background: Wini holds dual degrees in Computer Science (from Taiwan) and Computer Arts, 3D and VFX (BFA from SVA), giving her a unique foundation in both technology and creative arts.

Interests: Making stop motion & puppets, yoga, and cooking vegetarian food.

Most looking forward to: I am most looking forward to the hands-on opportunity to be creative and bring my ideas to life.

Most apprehensive about: My biggest apprehension is managing my time effectively to keep up with the course demands.

IG:redgeroro

Hi, this is Lauren // Lo

• born and raised in Queens, New York with roots in St. Catherine, Jamaica
  
• studied computer science and interaction design at GWU
  
• interned as an experience strategist with Code and Theory and then moved into freelance design (ux/ui +product +production)
  
• i love making collages with paper, digital tools and video
  
• favorite foods -> eating is one of my favorite pastimes so i have many favorites, top 3 are a good kbbq + anything soupy + saucy + jamaican oxtail
  
  I’m looking forward to making tangible projects that can be easily recognized as my work. I enjoy making things that have cultural resonance and encourage some form of storytelling. I imagine the things I have made exist in a carefully curated world and i’m excited to use this class as a way to expand on that. I have less interest in the creation of soft products. As someone who has avoided learning how to sew for most of my life that is where most of my apprehension lies. It is exciting that my first sewing project will be to make a plushie.

I’m a multidisciplinary designer based in Brooklyn. I grew up in a small Connecticut town, halfway between New York City and Boston. In college, I studied biology and competed on the cross-country and track teams. I then attended design school in Atlanta before moving to Brooklyn to begin my professional career. Before joining PoD, I focused primarily on graphic design. Most recently, I was at Mother Design, where I specialized in branding and systems.

Outside of work and school, I enjoy spending time with my dog, Frankie, and watching him interact with the world. I maintain a running practice as a way to challenge myself and ensure I spend time outside.

I am cognizant that there might be a steeper learning curve towards the beginning of this course, as most of this is new to me. However, I’m looking forward to gaining a better understanding of how things work and potentially finding a new avenue of interest that will extend beyond this class.

@manyaswick

I’m an illustrator and designer from Zhejiang, China, currently based in New York. I’m a cat person and love all kinds of desert. I graduated with honors from Parsons School of Design with a BFA in Integrated Design. Before joining the MFA Products of Design program, I worked as a product designer at CHEECASE, where I developed luggage illustrations, backpack colorways, and bilingual promotional materials. 

I’m interested in illustrated merchandise and stationery. Creates playful, purposeful visuals—turning paper goods, stickers, and packaging into small moments of joy in everyday life. I design new stickers as my business cards every year for fun.

I’m looking forward to exploring electronics and gaining hands-on experience with both coding and physical making for the first time. I’m excited to challenge myself and learn new technical skills that can expand my creativity.

My Instagram: jayw1027

From: California Age: 24 Degree: BFA Graphic Design (2023)

I am versed at most traditional fine art mediums, except sculpture- I am NOT good at that. I worked for a year after graduating at a Theatre Company as a set designer and am now doing freelance graphic/web design + I tattoo on the side! I am always eager to learn new skills and crafts and am so excited to find myself in a masters program that will expedite that process. My favorite avenue of graphic design is package design for food, bev, toys, kits, beauty products, etc.

I enjoy cooking, junk journaling, lino printing, modeling, styling clothes, writing, singing, and painting. I love sushi and hot pot the most. My friends are my family and I also have a sweet tuxedo boy. I collect interesting shoes and I enjoy horror movies and musicals. I am passionate about all groups of people being accurately represented in media and in the everyday tools we use.

Dreams I have include working as a Creative Director for Independent music artists, balancing tattooing with that, publishing my writing, designing a cookbook, and being on a reality TV show!

Links!

Portfolio Website: https://readymag.website/u1350593041/anushasowda/

Art Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nushaverseink/

Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nushaverse/

I am a design student from India with a Bachelor of Design degree and a diverse cultural background, having grown up in different parts of India. I graduated from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (New Delhi) in 2023 with a Major in Fashion & Lifestyle Accessories, along with a Minor in Space Display & Presentation Design.

My formal education in design exposed me to the lateral horizons of User-centric  Design, Packaging design, Design for Social Innovation, Branding, and Visual Communication, while my innate interest has always been in Lifestyle Accessories and Furniture. I was previously working as a furniture designer at a luxury furniture company in India – Wriver, where my role was to manage the Furniture Accessories vertical within the company. I, thereby contributed to the entire lifecycle of product development, from initial conceptualization to final visualization. One of the products that I made for the company was recently awarded the SIT Design Award 2025, which was an exciting achievement for me!

Throughout my journey with design, my thorough design process has been my constant companion. The tangibility of design has made the journey of my designs my means of expressing myself. Some of my hobbies include engaging in creative pursuits, journaling, exploring new places, trying new foods, and organizing things.

Having had no background or experience in computer science or coding, I am quite excited about learning how to code and integrate electronics into product design, however, the challenge of exploring a new field is also seemingly daunting.

Hi! I’m Batu. I’m originally from Ankara, Türkiye, and I recently graduated from CCA with a degree in Animation. Before joining PoD, I’ve been working across different mediums—mostly animation, furniture, and design—because I love telling stories in more than one way.

Some of my favorite things to make are animated shorts, visuals, and video edits for artists, furniture designs, and multidisciplinary projects. Outside of school, I love playing basketball and DJ’ing. I do miss eating In-N-Out after moving from California, but I guess I can settle for Shake Shack here too.

In this course, I’m mostly looking forward to merging my TouchDesigner knowledge with Arduino and exploring how interactive systems can expand my practice.

@batualpas