About
Designer, developer, and researcher working at the intersection of visual systems and computation.
I believe the most compelling work lives in the space between intuition and algorithm, between the hand and the machine.
I'm Chenyang Xu — a multidisciplinary designer and engineer based between Shanghai and New York. My practice spans visual identity systems, interactive installations, and computational tools that help designers work at the speed of thought.
Currently, I split my time between client work through my independent studio and research exploring how generative systems can augment — rather than replace — human creative judgment.
When I'm not designing or coding, you'll find me collecting vintage typography specimens, experimenting with film photography, or reading about the history of cartography.
Design
- Visual Identity Systems
- Editorial & Print Design
- Generative & Computational Design
- Motion & Interaction Design
- Typography & Custom Type
Engineering
- Creative Coding (p5.js, Processing)
- WebGL / Three.js / GLSL
- Front-End Development (React, Svelte)
- iOS & SwiftUI Prototyping
- Python for Data Visualization
Research
- HCI & Creative Tools
- Perception & Visual Cognition
- Parametric & Procedural Systems
- Accessibility in Generative Art
- Eye-Tracking & UX Studies
Independent Designer & Developer
Running an independent practice focused on visual identity, creative tools, and computational design. Clients range from cultural institutions to early-stage startups.
Senior Product Designer
Led design for a collaborative creative platform. Built the design system from scratch, shipped the iOS and web apps, and conducted user research with over 200 creative professionals.
Design Technologist
Developed real-time interactive installations and data-driven visualizations for museums, exhibitions, and public spaces. Combined computer vision with generative graphics.
BFA in Visual Communication
Focused on typography, interaction design, and computational media. Thesis explored the use of generative systems in editorial design workflows.
"Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works — and for whom."
This guides every project I take on, whether it's a brand system, a research prototype, or a line of code.