Sabrina Tian is a Chinese-American designer and researcher interested in designing for culture , whether it be in collaboration with microorganisms, the social behavior and norms found in human societies, or the system of interactions between a society with the environment.
To her, design is a form of advocacy. Everything we create and use shape our behaviors and surrounding environments. As designers, we must advocate for all species in creating responsible, accessible, and impactful ways to engage with both analog and digital spaces around us. She is fascinated in analyzing the standards of our society, finding ways to refine them to be more inclusive, and designing for them sustainably.
EDUCATION
MA Global Innovation Design (GID)
Royal College of Art
September 2022 - August 2024
MSc Global Innovation Design (GID)
Imperial College London
September 2022 - August 2024
Exchange Semester (GID), Industrial Design
Pratt Institute
August 2023 - December 2023
Exchange Semester (GID), Media Design
Keio University
April 2023 - August 2023
B.A. Design, B.A. Cognitive Science
University of Pennsylvania
August 2018 - May 2022
EXHIBITIONS & TALKS
"Vleur"
COP28 Showcase, Prototypes for Humanity
Dubai Future Foundation, Dubai
December 2023
→ Media
"Vleur"
Modern Metamorphoses, Biodesign Challenge
Parson School of Design, New York City
June 22, 2023
→ Media
"Poole Pavilion"
Grand Challenge: Engaging Communities for Generating Marine Sustainable Economies
Royal College of Art, London
March 10 - March 14, 2023
→ Media
"Born in China, Grown in America"
In Search Of
Charles Addams Fine Arts Hall, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
April 13 - April 15, 2022
→ Media
"Asian Migration: Emotions & Personal Narratives through Art"
Asian American Studies (ASAM) Fellows Colloquium
McNeil Building, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
October 8, 2021
→ Media
"Heart of Valley’s Delight"
Design Philadelphia: Designing Motherhood Public Program
Online, Philadelphia
October 6, 2021
→ Media
HONORS & AWARDS
Industrial Design Studentship
Issued by The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851
London
October 2023
Semifinalist, Biodesign Challenge 2023
Issued by Biodesign Challenge (BDC)
New York City
June 2023
JASSO Studentship
Issued by Japan Student Services Organization
Tokyo
April 2023
Top 12 Shortlist, Grand Challenge: Engaging Communities for Generating Marine Sustainable Economies
Issued by Royal College of Art & Royal National Lifeboat Institution
London
February 2023
2nd Place, 2022 Penn Film Festival
Issued by University of Pennsylvania, Cinema & Media Studies Department
Philadelphia
May 2022
Semifinalist, Biodesign Challenge x Google Hardware Design Studio
Issued by Biodesign Challenge (BDC)
September 2021
CLIENTS