Sheng-Hung Lee, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Urban Technology and Director of d-mix lab at the University of Michigan. His research bridges design, technology, and service systems to advance Design for Longevity (D4L) and systemic societal impact.
| Education |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA (2022─2025)
Ph.D., Human Behavior and Service Design*
*self-designed, interdisciplinary doctoral degree administered by MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering
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Thesis: Design for Longevity: Service and System Innovation [ link ]
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Ph.D. Committees: Maria C. Yang, John Ochsendorf, Joseph F. Coughlin, Olivier de Weck, and Eric Klopfer
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Industry Mentors: Gianfranco Zaccai and Michael Peng
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MIT MechE Departmental Award (2025 Wunsch Foundation Silent Hoist and Crane Award)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA (2019─2022)
MS, Integrated Design & Management (GPA: 5.0 / 5)
MS, Mechanical Engineering (GPA: 4.9 / 5)
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Thesis: Human-Centered System Design for an Aging Population: An Experimental Study of Footwear Design [ link | pdf ]
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Advisors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Olivier de Weck, Joseph F. Coughlin, and Maria C. Yang
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Advisors: Carnegie Mellon University: Jonathan Chapman
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MIT Planet D (Official Club for Human-Centered Systems Design) President and Co-Founder
National Cheng Kung University, R.O.C. (Taiwan) (2006─2013)
BS, Industrial Design (GPA: 4.00 / 4)
BS, Electrical Engineering (GPA: 3.95 / 4)
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NCKU President Scholarship
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NCKU Outstanding Student Award for Academic
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NCKU Distinguished Achievement Award in Industrial Design and Electrical Engineering
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China Technical Consultants, Inc. (CTCI) Science and Technology Creativity Scholarship
| Research Experience |
d-mix lab, Ann Arbor, USA [ link ]
Director and Founder (2026─present)
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Project Design for Longevity (D4L)
MIT AgeLab, Cambridge, USA [ link ]
Ph.D. Researcher and Designer (2019─2025)
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Project Smart Home for the Aging Population
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MIT AgeLab Website Design Team
MIT Governance Lab (MIT GOV/LAB), Cambridge, USA [ link ]
Curriculum Designer (June─August, 2022)
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Governance Innovation Project
MIT Ideation Lab, Cambridge, USA [ link ]
Ph.D. Researcher and Designer (2020─2025)
MIT xPRO, Cambridge, USA
Research Assistant and Curriculum Experience Designer (2019─2020)
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Co-designed MIT xPRO Systems Thinking course and toolkit with Prof. Edward F. Crawley
MIT Office of Sustainability, Cambridge, USA [ link ]
Safe and Sustainable Lab Fellow and Designer (2021─2022)
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Research Paper published by World Design Organization (WDO) Research and Education Forum (2022)
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Poster Paper published by Digital Research in the Humanities and Arts (DRHA) (2022)
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Research Paper published by IDC and Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) (2021)
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Conducted ethnographic research working with Dr. Julie Newman, Director of MITOS (2021)
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Worked on the research topic: Safe and Sustainable Lab: Disposable Material Flow (2021)
Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME) Social Design Hub, Budapest, Hungary [ link ]
Visiting Research Fellow (2023─2024)
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Worked on the research topic: Design for Longevity x FRUSKA from September 1st, 2023 to March 31st, 2024
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Collaborated with MIT AgeLab and MOME Innovation Center Social Design Hub
| Teaching Experience |
University of Michigan Urban Technology program, Ann Arbor, USA
Assistant Professor
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Winter Term 2026 | Course: UT 210: Listening: Design Ethnography Methods [ link ]
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The course was developed in collaboration with and sponsored by General Motors (GM) and Lumivero (ATLAS.ti).
Northeastern University College of Arts, Media and Design, Boston, USA
Adjunct Lecturer
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Fall Term 2025 | Course: ARTG 2400: Interaction Design Principles
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Illinois, USA
External Critic
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2025-2026 | Industrial Design Graduate Program
MIT Course 2.00 Introduction to Design, Cambridge, USA
Team Lab Instructor
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Fall Term 2022-2023 | Overall Rating 7.0 / 7 (Rating Scale: 1=Very Poor, 7=Excellent)
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Fall Term 2021-2022 | Overall Rating 6.0 / 7 (Rating Scale: 1=Very Poor, 7=Excellent)
MIT Course 15.783 / 2.739 Product Design and Development, Cambridge, USA
Guest Reviewer
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Spring Term 2022-2023, 2021-2022, 2020-2021
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Fall Term 2019-2020
MIT Course 11.547 / SCM 287 Global Aging & The Built Environment, Cambridge, USA
Co-Instructor and Teaching Assistant
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Fall Term 2024-2025 | Overall Rating 6.9 / 7 (Rating Scale: 1=Very Poor, 7=Excellent)
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Fall Term 2023-2024 | Overall Rating 4.5 / 7 (Rating Scale: 1=Very Poor, 7=Excellent)
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Fall Term 2022-2023 | Overall Rating 6.2 / 7 (Rating Scale: 1=Very Poor, 7=Excellent)
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Fall Term 2021-2022 | Overall Rating 6.7 / 7 (Rating Scale: 1=Very Poor, 7=Excellent)
MIT Course 11.S941 / 11.S195 Global Aging: Planning Cities for a 100-Year Society, Cambridge, USA
Co-Instructor and Teaching Assistant
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Fall Term 2020-2021
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Makeathon Competition, Providence, USA
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Jury, March 15, 2025
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Mentor, March 23, 2024
Fudan University, P.O.C. (China)
Adjunct Associate Professor (2015─2019)
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Outstanding Adjunct Professor Award, Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts, Fudan University (2018, 2017)
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Teaching: Graduation Project, Sustainable Design, and Design Method
Shih Chien University, Taiwan
Adjunct Associate Professor (2023─2024)
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Teach "Service Design" in the Asia Summer Program from July 2nd to July 10th, 2024
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Teach "Service Design" in the Asia Summer Program from June 17th to July 4th, 2023
Holon Institute of Technology (HIT), Israel
Visiting Lecturer (2023)
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Teach “Design for Longevity: Project Your Future Self” in International Design Week “The Elephant in the Room” from October 14th to October 20th, 2023 (Note: workshop canceled due to international circumstances)
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The course collaboration was invited by Dr. Yael Eylat Van Essen, Faculty of Design, HIT
Macromedia University, Munich, Germany
Visiting Lecturer (2023)
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Teach “Life-Centered Design” in Design Management Program from October 1st, 2023 to January 31st, 2024
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The course collaboration was invited by Oliver Szasz, Professor of Digital Media and Communication Design and Head of Study Programme M.A. Design Management, Macromedia University
Telkom University, Indonesia
Visiting Professor (2022 Summer)
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School of Creative Industries appoints as a Visiting Professor at Global Learning Week (GLOW)
DaTao Master Academy, P.O.C. (China)
Adjunct Associate Professor (2017─2019)
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Teaching: Ergonomic (I), (II), and (III)
| Service |
Design for Augmented Humanity (DAH) journal
Editorial Board (2026─2031) [ link ]
Design Research Society (DRS) Conference, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Paper Track Co-Chair (2025─2026)
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LongevityTech Cities: Design for Age-Inclusive Urban Futures [ link ]
The Participatory Design Conference 2026, Milan, Italy
Programme Committee (2026─2026)
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Conference Theme: Peace, Dialogue, Coexistence
International Association of Societies of Design Research (IASDR) 2025, Taipei, Taiwan
Track Committee (2025─2025)
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Conference Theme: Design Next
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Track Theme: Design, Art, and Technology
Design Research Society (DRS) Conference, Boston, USA
Paper Track Co-Chair (2023─2024)
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Design for Longevity (D4L): Project Your Future Self through Service and Technology
diid (disegno industriale industrial design) Journal, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Guest Editors (2023─2024)
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Design for Longevity (D4L) and Life-Centered Design [ link | pdf ]
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No.84 | ISSN (online): 2785-2245 | ISSN: 1594-8528
Base Diseño e Innovación Journal, Universidad del Desarrollo, Chile
Guest Editors (2023─2024)
The Design Journal, Publisher Routledge
Paper Track Co-Chair (2023─2024)
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Journal Reviewer [ link | pdf ]
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ISSN (online): 1756-3062 | ISSN: 1460-6925
World Design Organization (WDO)
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WDO Education Committee (2023)
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WDO Board Director Candidate (2022)
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Research Paper published by WDO Research and Education Forum (2022)
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WDO World Industrial Design Day Speaker (2022)
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WDO World Industrial Design Day Speaker (2021)
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WDO Young Designers Circle Ambassador (2020)
Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA)
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Service
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IDSA At-Large Director (Awards) Board of Director (2025, 2023)
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IDSA Student Merit Awards Jury at Wentworth Institute of Technology (2025)
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IDSA At-Large Director (Awards) Leadership Role (2022, 2020)
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IDSA Boston Chair (2022, 2021)
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IDSA Award Committee (2022, 2021)
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IDSA Boston Vice Chair (2020)
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International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) Jury (2018, 2017)
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Achievement
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IDSA International Design Conference (IDC) Paper Presenter (2022, 2021, 2020)
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IDSA Gianninoto Graduate Scholarship Winner (2019)
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| Working Experience |
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Industrial Designer and Electrical Engineer (2015─2019)
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Clients: NIKE, Procter & Gamble, Tsinghua University MBA program, Vichy, China Resources Land Limited, Fotile
Continuum
Industrial Designer and Design Strategist (2014─2015)
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Clients: Rubbermaid, Bank of China, UCAR Inc
EMMA Creative Center Pforzheim, Germany
Designers in Residence (Industrial Design) (2019─2019)
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Project: Small Things with Big Heart
| Design Award Jury |
2026 ─ GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN Jury ─ Product Design
2026 ─ April Open Mic Pitch Challenge by AgeTech Collaborative from AARP
2026 ─ Ukrainian Design Award Jury ─ Environmental Design
2025 ─ Taiwan International Student Design Competition Jury ─ Product Design
2025 ─ GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN Jury ─ Product Design
2024 ─ Ukrainian Design Award Jury ─ Product Design
2023 ─ International Design Awards Jury ─ Architectural, Interior, Product, Fashion and Graphics
2022 ─ Australian Good Design Awards ─ Next Gen Category
2022 ─ Golden Pin Design Award Jury ─ Concept Design
2021 ─ Australian Good Design Awards ─ Next Gen Category
2021 ─ Rethinking The Future (RTF) Design Awards
2021 ─ International Design Awards Jury ─ Architectural, Interior, Product, Fashion and Graphics
2020 ─ Spark Design Award Jury ─ Design Concept and Student Category
2020 ─ International Design Awards Jury ─ Architectural, Interior, Product, Fashion and Graphics
2020 ─ Ukrainian Design Award Jury ─ Product Design
2019 ─ LITE-ON Award Jury ─ Design Category
2019 ─ Ukrainian Design Award Jury ─ Industrial Design
2019 ─ International Design Awards Jury ─ Architectural, Interior, Product, Fashion and Graphics
2018 ─ International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) Jury ─ Industrial Design
2018 ─ International Design Awards Jury ─ Architectural, Interior, Product, Fashion and Graphics
2018 ─ Spark Design Award Jury ─ Product Design and Design Concept
2018 ─ Ukrainian Design Award Jury ─ Environmental Design
2018 ─ Red Star Design Award Jury ─ Product and Service Design
2018 ─ Golden Pin Design Award Jury ─ Product Design
2016 ─ Taihu Design Award Jury ─ Product and Industrial Design
2017 ─ International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) Jury - Industrial Design
2017 ─ A' Design Award & Competition Jury ─ Product and Industrial Design
2017 ─ Ukrainian Design Award Jury ─ Industrial Design
2016 ─ Spark Design Award Jury ─ Maker and Design Concept
2016 ─ International Design Awards Jury ─ Architectural, Interior, Product, Fashion and Graphics
2016 ─ Golden Pin Design Award Consultant ─ Design Concept
| Design Exhibitions |
2024 ─ Good Interventions by Parsons School of Design ─ Project: Longevity Planning Blocks [ website | pdf ]
2024 ─ Red Dot Design Museum Xiamen: Social Design Action ─ Project: Design for Longevity [ pdf ]
2023 ─ Venice Innovation Design ─ Project: Design for Longevity: Sustainable Life-Centered Services [ website ]
2021 ─ MIT Wiesner Gallery ─ Project: DESIGN: INCLUSIVE
2020 ─ Dubai Design Week Global Grad Show ─ Project: Tube 7 ─ Modular Lamp Design
2020 ─ Dubai Design Week Global Grad Show ─ Project: Fresh Tracker ─ A System for Smart Food Stocking
2019 ─ Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial ─ Project: TetraPOT 2.0
2019 ─ Cube Design Museum ─ Project: TetraPOT 2.0
2018 ─ Venice Design Week ─ Project: Shanghai Library Innovation Space
2018 ─ Shanghai Library ─ Project: Redesign Public Space
2017 ─ Dubai Design Week Global Grad Show ─ Project: TetraPOT
2017 ─ Shanghai Maker Carnival Exhibition ─ Project: Daily Innovation
| Honors and Design Awards |
2022 ─ IxDC International Experience Design Awards ─ Top 10 Design Star [ link | pdf ]
2021 ─ International Design Awards, Gold ─ Design For Society & Design for Public Awareness
2021 ─ International Design Awards, Silver ─ Education & Teaching Aids
2021 ─ Spark Award, Bronze ─ Product, industrial, and Service, Student
2020 ─ Core77 Design Award, Student Winner ─ Personal Accessory Award
2020 ─ International Design Awards, Bronze ─ Design for Society & Design for Public Awareness
2020 ─ DNA Paris Design Award, Winner ─ Experimental Design
2020 ─ DNA Paris Design Award, Honorable Mention ─ Landscape Design
2020 ─ Spark Award, Sliver ─ Concept, Professional
2020 ─ Spark Award, Finalist ─ Concept, Professional
2020 ─ Novum Design Award, Gold ─ Service Design
2020 ─ Novum Design Award, Gold ─ Design for Social Impact
2020 ─ IDEA, Finalist ─ Student Designs
2020 ─ IDEA, Finalist ─ Student Designs
2018 ─ European Product Design Award, Gold ─ Design for Sustainability
2018 ─ Spark Award, Gold ─ Experience
2018 ─ IDEA, Finalist ─ Service Design
2018 ─ A' Design Award & Competition, Iron ─ Governance and Public Service Design
2018 ─ International Design Awards, Honorable Mention ─ Institutional, Conceptual
2017 ─ iF, Gold ─ Discipline Professional Concept
2017 ─ Outstanding Adjunct Professor Award, Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts, Fudan University
2017 ─ European Product Design Award, Gold ─ Design for Sustainability
2016 ─ IDEA, Gold ─ Environments
2016 ─ red dot Design Award, Winner ─ Habitat
2016 ─ James Dyson Award, National Winner (Taiwan) & International Top 20 Winner
2016 ─ Spark Award, Winner ─ Concept, Professional
2016 ─ A' Design Award & Competition, Silver ─ Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design
2016 ─ A' Design Award & Competition, Bronze ─ Disposable and Single-Use Product Design
2016 ─ International Design Awards, Gold ─ Design for Society, Sustainable Products
2016 ─ International Design Awards, Bronze ─ Home Interior Products, Kitchen Accessories/Tabletop
2016 ─ International Design Awards, Bronze ─ Home Interior Products, Bathroom Fittings/Appliances
2016 ─ International Design Awards, Honorable Mention ─ Safety Design
2016 ─ Sichuan-Taiwan Industrial Design Awards, Silver ─ Environments
2015 ─ IDEA, Finalist ─ Student Designs
2015 ─ Spark Award, Student Designs ─ Concept
2013 ─ Spark Award, Student Designs ─ Concept
2013 ─ Core77 Design Award, Student Notable ─ Interaction
2013 ─ IDEA, Finalist ─ Student Designs
2012 ─ IDEA, Gold ─ Student Designs
2012 ─ Braun Prize, Special Mention ─ Student Designs
2012 ─ Fujitsu Semiconductor MCU Electronic Design Competition, Gold
2012 ─ Fujitsu Semiconductor MCU Electronic Design Competition, Excellent Prize
2012 ─ Fujitsu Semiconductor MCU Electronic Design Competition, Best Creative Award
2012 ─ Core77 Design Award, Student Runner-up ─ Consumer Products
2012 ─ Core77 Design Award, Student Notable ─ Equipment
2012 ─ red dot Award: winner ─ Design Concept
2011 ─ red dot Award, Best of the Best ─ Design Concept
2011 ─ National Science Council, College Student Research Award
2011 ─ Taipei Industrial Design Award, Honorable Mentions Award ─ Design Concept
2011 ─ Essay Excellent Work: Chinese Institute of Engineers
2010 ─ College Student Research Award: National Science Council
2010 ─ iF Award-winning Entries of the lebens(t)raeume Competition
2010 ─ 29th International Young Designers’ Exhibition, Gold Award
2010 ─ Tainan County Xiao Ridge, Young Designer Award
2009 ─ Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua Univ. & Department of ID, NCKU, Gold Award
2009 ─ NCKU International Workshop, Silver Award
2009 ─ NCKU Outstanding Student Award for Academic
2008 ─ NCKU Outstanding Student Award for Academic
2007 ─ NCKU Outstanding Student Award for Academic
2007 ─ NCKU Distinguished Achievement Award in Calculus
| Scholarships |
2021 ─ The Council for the Arts at MIT (CAMIT) Funding ─ Project: MAKE TO:GATHER
2021 ─ MIT Sandbox Innovation Funding
2020 ─ MIT Sandbox Innovation Funding
2019 ─ MIT De Florez Fund for Humor
2019 ─ IDSA Gianninoto Graduate Scholarship Winner
2019 ─ EMMA Creative Center Pforzheim, Designers in Residence Scholarship
2011 ─ China Technical Consultants, Inc. (CTCI) Science and Technology Creativity Scholarship
2010 ─ China Technical Consultants, Inc. (CTCI) Science and Technology Creativity Scholarship
2013 ─ NCKU Capstone Program ─ Project: Innovation Research of QR Code Application with MCU
2013 ─ NCKU Capstone Program ─ Project: Real-time Image Processing and Data Transmission Research
2012─ Dr. Liao Zong Lin Professor Emeritus of NCKU Department of Electrical Engineering
2009 ─ Dr. Tian Shou Wu Professor Emeritus of NCKU Department of Electrical Engineering
2009 ─ Dr. Wei-Noon Wang Scholarship Foundation
2008 ─ Dr. Yun-Ping Lo Memorial Scholarship Foundation
| Professional Membership |
2021 ─ Service Design Network (SDN) ─ Member
2021 ─ The Design Society ─ Member
2020 ─ Design Management Institute (DMI) ─ Member
2018 ─ World Design Organization (WDO) ─ Professional Member
2018 ─ Asia Designer Communication Platform (ADP) ─ Purple Member
2017 ─ Chinese Industrial Designers Association (CIDA) ─ Professional Member
2012 ─ Industrial Designers Society of America Society (IDSA) ─ International Young Professional Member
2012 ─ Phi Tau Phi Scholastic Honor Society ─ Honorary Member
2010 ─ Phi Tau Phi Scholastic Honor Society ─ Honorary Member
2010 ─ Chinese Institute of Electrical Engineering ─ Member
2010 ─ Taiwan Science, Technology & Society Association ─ Member
| Patents |
2013 ─ Media Storage Device for Storing Images with Audio Effects (101209072, Taiwan)
2012 ─ Curved Scissors (101210425, Taiwan)
2010 ─ Tape Dispenser (99206579, Taiwan)
2010 ─ Tweezers Clip (99208296, Taiwan)
| Funding |
2025 ─ MIT Morningside Academy for Design (MAD) Design Event Awardee