ABOUT.

I am Chuming Zhang. You can call me Helen!

I am an Industrial Designer but much more than a designer. I am deeply committed to enhancing human well-being through thoughtful, detailed, and honest design. My approach involves a comprehensive understanding of diverse challenges and the pursuit of integrated innovative solutions without compromise.

Currently a second-year Master’s student in Integrated Product Design at the University of Pennsylvania, I am broadening my expertise in engineering and business to further refine my skills as a versatile and holistic designer.

My previous experiences have been instrumental in shaping my career. I particularly relished collaborating with engineers and discovered a profound passion for user-centered design. Navigating through the problem-finding and problem-solving phases of each project has consistently been the most fulfilling aspect of my work.

For further insights into my journey and projects, Please connect with me!

DESIGN

Ideation Sketching Researching

Storyboarding User Journey Map

Benchmarking Wireframing

Information Architecture Prototyping

CAD Modeling Rendering CMF

User Testing & Validation System Design

UI/UX Design Human-Centered Design

SKILLS.

SOFTWARE

Sketchbook Pro Photoshop Illustrator

InDesign XD Figma After Effects

Audition Word Excel PowerPoint

CAD + RENDERING

Keyshot SolidWorks OnShape

Autodesk Fusion360 NX Rhino

ENGINEERING

Arduino Design for Manufacturability

Design for Assembly Bill of Materials

Quality Function Deployment

PROTOTYPING

Rapid Prototyping Wood Working

3D Printing Laser Cutting Sculpting

CNC Molding Soldering Sewing

BUSINESS

Marketing Retailing Business Analytics

EDUCATION.

Expected May. 2025

GPA 3.76/4.00

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

MS, Integrated Product Design

Certificate: Engineering Entrepreneurship

Courses: Design Processes, Problem Framing, Architecture & Health, Engineering Entrepreneurship, Management and Strategy in Medical Devices and Technology, Human System Engineering

May. 2023

GPA 3.96/4.00

University of Cincinnati, DAAP, Cincinnati, OH

BS, Industrial Design, Marketing Minor

Dean’s List

Courses: Design Communication, Design Theory, Design Methods, Design Thinking

WORK EXPERIENCE.

Jun. – Present

Philadelphia, PA

Penn Health-Tech

Student Fellow

  • Incubated two medical product teams from concept to VC-ready stages within six months, guiding the development of a maternal health diagnostic kit and an eardrum repair patch.

  • Conducted extensive market sizing research, commercial research, and competitor analysis, gathering insights from healthcare providers, patients, and regulatory experts to inform product development for two medical products.

  • Crafted and delivered investor pitch decks, utilizing compelling storytelling and refined value propositions, leading to improved engagement and actionable feedback.

  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams, including engineers, clinicians, and business strategists, to ensure seamless integration of design, technical feasibility, and market viability.

Aug. – Dec. 2022

Milwaukee, WI

Enerpac Tool Group

Concept Innovation Design Intern

  • Researched $1.5B North American railroad industry, analyzing opportunity sizing, user pain points, competitor offerings, validating industry needs, and shaping a 10-year product roadmap in three months.

  • Partnered with cross-functional teams to translate research insights into actionable design solutions. Developed and tested three product concepts, improving usability, performance, and manufacturability in four weeks.

  • Designed and standardized the company’s Product Brand Language (PBL) Guide along with other Design and Innovation  (D&I) team members, establishing clear visual and functional criteria and improving brand consistency and recognition.

Jan. – Apr. 2022

Cincinnati, OH

Force-4, a division of Stress Engineering

Industrial Design Intern

  • Conceptualized and designed a smart pest-repellent product with a mobile app for customizable scents, driving a 10% increase in online sales and enhancing brand visibility.

  • Innovated IoT product concepts that captured real-time user data, generating actionable insights to optimize customer reorders and increase retention by 15%.

  • Produced detailed ideation sketches and Keyshot renderings for a sporting goods project, achieving client approvals and advancing product development pipelines with refined visual solutions.

  • Managed over 100 3D printing projects for internal engineers and external clients, optimizing production workflows and reducing timelines by 20%, ensuring consistent quality and efficiency.

May. – Aug. 2021

Shanghai, China

Studio Monana

Product Design Intern

  • Designed and led 15 art workshops for children at Xi’an Art Museum, managing project timelines and coordinating with the education department. The workshops culminated in a public ceramic tile installation showcasing children’s artwork.

  • Collaborated with suppliers and manufacturers to design and produce an abstract art ceramic tile kit inspired by the workshops, resulting in over 5,000 units sold within two months.

  • Enhanced modular furniture designs by improving manufacturability, adjustability, and customization, reducing the number of parts by 30% and cutting production costs by 70%.

  • Developed CAD models and sketches for a jewelry collection, ensuring high-quality mass production.

  • Independently conceptualized a self-cooling glass cup for cold drinks, balancing functional innovation with aesthetic appeal.

Jan. – May. 2020

Aug. – Dec. 2020

Suzhou, China

Crown Equipment Corporation

Industrial Design Intern

  • Created a patent-pending soft storage bag for manual forklifts, addressing operator pain points and improving tool accessibility, achieving a 95% adoption rate during user testing.

  • Collaborated with engineers and designers to develop a modular battery system that streamlined team and truck management workflows while optimizing production costs without compromising quality.

  • Delivered detailed CAD models and high-quality renderings for new product concepts, elaborating visual communication to expedite decision-making processes across engineering and marketing teams.

  • Designed and implemented a factory navigation system in three weeks with a 100% satisfaction rate among users.

Contact Me.

chumingz@seas.upenn.edu
(+1) 267-648-7549