AboutProjects
hi@yanchen.me© Yan Chen 2025

Hello! 👋 I’m Yan.

When I was eight years old, I wanted to be a detective. Detective stories captured my imagination because I loved following clues to find answers in unexpected places—it was problem solving meets adventure. Decades later, I bring that same spirit into my design practice.

Seeking insights with curiosity, connecting dots with persistence, uncovering beauty with optimism, and crafting delight with resourcefulness is my approach to design. This approach helps me thrive in the complexity and ambiguity that often comes with building towards a future full of unknowns. It's also why I love owning the entire design process, from understanding the whys behind the challenge to collaborative implementation.

I've been designing digital products since 2011, whether leading a cross-functional team to build a Red-Dot Award winning product in 13 months, to helping startups and non-profits turn a vision into a tangible product. In addition to product design, I am currently helping a non-profit create empowerment opportunities in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood, and investing into a broader personal design practice such as up-cycling food waste into new materials and products.

Education
MA/MSc Innovation Design Engineering

Royal College of Art + Imperial College London

Oct 2017 - Jul 2019 | London, UK

BA Psychology, Foreign Languages

Double Major, Lewis & Clark College

Sep 2006 - May 2010 | Portland, Oregon

French Language and Culture

Exchange program, University of Strasbourg

Jan - Jun 2009 | Strasbourg, France

work experience
Designer
Studio i61:3

Jan 2024 - Present | Remote

Design products, brands, experiences, and guide teams in innovation through design thinking and collaborative problem-solving.

Founding Designer & Project Manager
The Same Sun

Jan 2025 - May 2025 | San Francisco

Led design and operations for hospitality incubator, developing systems and tools to help small businesses increase revenue, reduce costs, and grow sustainably.

Founding Designer
Conduit (Ark Foundation)

Jul 2023 - May 2024 | Remote

Led end-to-end design across brand, UX/UI, hardware, and marketing; crafted design language, prototyped products, collaborated cross-functionally to align design with business goals.

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Founding Designer
Kipos (Stadia Church Planting)

Mar 2022 - Jun 2023 | Remote

Led user research and iterative design of a multi-stakeholder digital platform, translating insights into a data-informed tool to support new church launches and ecosystem coordination.

Product Designer & Program Consultant
LeadersAtlas

Jul 2021 - Sep 2022 | Remote

Productized consulting services by designing and implementing internal and client-facing web apps, and modular workshop tools; established product development process.

Founding Designer
Flourish

May 2021 - Jan 2022 | Remote

Led end-to-end design of volunteer matching mobile app and admin web app, integrating user insights, best practices, and impact measurement.

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Program & Visual Designer, Project Manager
Purpose in Motion (PIM)

Jul 2020 - Feb 2022 | Remote

Designed global and local Tech for Good programs, workshops, and career development experiences, blending virtual and in-person learning to support impact-driven careers.

Founder
Design for Social Innovation

Mar 2017 - Dec 2020 | Beijing, London, San Francisco

Designed and facilitated programs to train participants in creative problem-solving for social challenges.

Founding Team, Strategy & Design
Innopanda

Jan 2016 - Sep 2017 | Beijing

Identified opportunities and led client workshops combining design thinking, agile, and Art of Hosting methods; synthesized outcomes into visual reports and proposals.

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Founding Project Manager & Product Designer
Blue Sky Lab

Apr 2016 - Aug 2017 | Changsha

Defined platform strategy and led co-design, prototyping, and launch of ATMOBlue from concept to market in 13 months, overseeing a 5M RMB budget, cross-functional team, product roadmap, app design, and manufacturing partners.

Founding Team, Project Manager
Daimler China IT Innovation Lab

Apr 2015 - Dec 2015 | Beijing

Oversaw tech research and ideation, co-designed innovation processes and platforms to engage business units & innovation pipeline; prototyped digital products with engineering teams.

Operations & Program Design
Lacebark International Education Group

Mar 2014 - Mar 2015 | Beijing

Designed and led learning programs for high school students preparing for overseas studies; managed curriculum, experiential camps, tutor teams, student intake systems.

Community
Volunteer Staff
YWAM San Francisco

Jun 2020 - Present | San Francisco

Develop strategy, programs, and partnerships to support and empower unhoused neighbors.

Silicon Valley Co-Lead
FaithTech

Jan 2020 - Jan 2023 | San Francisco

Relaunched FaithTech Silicon Valley: built leadership team, partnerships; led meetups and hackathons, communications, projects.

Global Shaper
World Economic Forum

Sept 2016 - Jul 2021

Member
IDSA (Industrial Designers Society of America)

May 2024 - Present

Fellow
RSA (Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce)

Jan 2019 - Present