Interaction Designer & HCI Researcher at UC Berkeley

I’m Vivian Chen, a designer and philosopher exploring the emotional and ethical boundaries between humans and machines. I build AI-driven, embodied experiences—from digital products to sensor-based prototypes—grounded in systems thinking and rapid prototyping.

I’m currently a Master of Design student at UC Berkeley (expected 2026). Before Berkeley, I studied philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh, where I developed an interdisciplinary practice that blends aesthetics, humor, and structure—using interaction design as a way to make abstract forces like desire, attention, and control feel tangible.

Across my projects, my process follows a consistent loop: frame the system → prototype to learn → ship & iterate. I map workflows and constraints, test ideas through fast experiments, and turn the strongest direction into clear deliverables with measurable outcomes. I’m excited to collaborate across disciplines to build futures that are emotionally intelligent, socially reflective, and conceptually grounded.