We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Vivian Chen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Vivian below.

Vivian, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Growing up, I’ve always been into art. I would go to museums and galleries a lot, I had a little camera and I took pictures all the time, and then I’ve always been really good at making stuff. Everyone saw the creative spirit in me and it’s how I always thought of myself.
In middle school, when we started learning about science and physics, I was astonished by the fact that there’s a completely different way of understanding our world, like when you first understand how friction works and how to calculate it, or dropping something has only got to do with the mass and not the material. It’s like there’s a completely logical way of explaining the world that it seems totally irrational. I was really amazed by that and wanted to discover more of the science world. The only problem was, math was not really my strong suit.
Then one day, my dad was watching TV and came across a design reality show, it was the famous designer Philippe Starck guiding a group of college students as they each found a design problem to solve. My dad called me over to watch it. Then in the next—I don’t know how long—days, we followed the student on their journey to identifying the problem they want to solve, brainstorming and finding solutions, presenting design iterations while getting critiques from Philippe Starck, and then finally building their final prototypes to show—those prototypes looked so real and so good! That was how I found out about industrial design, and I was like, yes this is what I want to do.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Vivian Chen is a US-based designer and multidisciplinary artist exploring the emotional intersections between humanity and technology. Her work examines the influence of technology on our connections and daily lives, blending human psychology with design to create meaningful emotional experiences. By reflecting on the tension between connection and isolation in the digital age, Chen questions how technology shapes our intimate and social lives.
Driven by curiosity about individual behavior and societal trends, Chen’s work often asks: How do we navigate the digital world while maintaining our human connections? This balance is central to her practice, showcased internationally, including at Milan Design Week. Her work envisions a world where technology supports human well-being, using design to create systems that enhance rather than distract from life’s everyday moments.
As a designer and artist, my work explores the emotional dimensions of the human-technology relationship. I am fascinated by how technology influences our connections and shapes our daily experiences. Through my designs, I aim to bridge the gap between connection and isolation in the digital age, questioning how we can navigate our increasingly tech-driven lives while maintaining meaningful human interactions.
I believe that design has the power to elevate our everyday experiences, fostering well-being and mindfulness in a world often filled with distractions. By integrating human psychology into my work, I strive to create systems and objects that enhance our lives rather than detract from them. My goal is to inspire deeper connections, inviting reflection on the ways we engage with technology and with one another.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

It’s definitely getting your work shown, whether it’s a gallery show or a design exhibition, or when I work on production projects, getting your products shipped. I am a strong believer that a creative needs to be constantly working and creating and making, yet you need to get your stuff out there and share it with the world.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I really didn’t do a good job building my professional presence on social media. People on my Instagram are almost all friends of mine, and I felt too weird being too professional when I’m actually presenting to them. But to answer your question, I think keep posting helps.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vivianchendesign.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivianchendesign/

Image Credits

Vivian Chen