I’m a researcher, designer, and artist based in New York. I’m curious of understanding and creating human experiences, especially on those that connect us across space and time. My work explores different mediums across disciplines, often inspired by research in the history and biology. By experimenting with various technologies to add a touch of magic to experiences, I aim to invite people to see the familiar in unexpected ways.

Food is a special area of interest of mine. It is an anchor point for exploring cultural connections and investigating how perspectives have been shaped. Previously, I’ve spent my time researching how recipes traveled and adapted between East and Central Asia from the 7th to 13th Century CE, including funded research in field.

Currently, I’m pursuing an MPS (Master in Professional Studies) at NYU’s Interactive Telecommunication Program (ITP). I hold an MA in history from Columbia University and a BA in Liberal Arts from NYU. My projects have appeared at NYU Maker Space, Museum of Food and Drinks (MOFAD), Long Island Maker Fair, and NYC Media Lab.

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Una Zhang
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Alien Archive
2024 - Present
A three-parts project that uses dumplings as tangible expressions of cultural adaptation and identity formation, revealing how the unfamiliar, the alien, is folded into shared experience and archived into collective memories. 
Highlight:
Research,
Physical-build,
Participatory Art,
Experience Design,
Exhibition Design,
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Dark Room Experience for Alice Austen House
2024 - 2025
An end-to-end client project combining physical miniature, wall relief, and an augmented reality experience to help museum visitors explore Alice Austen’s darkroom setup and process, otherwise inaccessible on the closed-off second floor.
Highlight:
Client Work,
Research,
Experience Design,
Exhibition Design,
Augumented Reality,
Physical-build,
Cookie Lab
2023 - Present
Currently on view at Museum of Food and Drinks (MOFAD).
A participatory sensory station that uses cookies to explore the interplay between taste and smell and between sensory experience and perception.
Highlight:
Research,
Physical-build,
Sensory Design,
Experience Design,
Exhibition Design,
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Fated Time: A Recreation of the Antikythera Mechanism
Jan - June 2024
A research-based, multi-stage interactive installation that recreates the Antikythera Mechanism (~100 BCE) in a personal, playful, and informative way.
Highlight:
Research,
Physical-build,
Interaction Design,
Digital Fabrication,
Augmented Reality,
Exhibition Design,
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Scents of Us
Oct 2023 - March 2024
Shown at and won 2024 NYC Media Lab X Chanel Virtual Synesthesia Challenge
A multi-sensory experience where scents are rendered visible and audible.
Highlight:
Physical-build,
Multisensory Design,
Exhibition Design,
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