Crystal Zeng
Design Associate (secondment) at Rural Design Centre Innovation Project- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Dr Jonathan Baldwin
I met Crystal when she was a student at Glasgow School of Art and have followed her career with interest. She has made an enormous impact on those she has worked with and been welcomed by stakeholders in the rural north east of England. During the pandemic I employed Crystal to act as a student liaison helping those stranded overseas as well as those in lockdown in the UK to remain connected to their peers and engaged with the programme. Crystal went above and beyond and helped ensure that students still had a great experience despite the situation. Crystal is a team player but with an independent spirit who can be trusted with responsibility. She brings energy to any situation but is also sensitive to the needs and context of those she’s working with. She’s also an independent learner - if she doesn’t know how to do something she soon will. Her English is excellent and she is comfortable running workshops and giving presentations to large groups whether they are locals, senior managers, or diplomats. Her MRes research project on the circular economy revealed a lot about our habits when it comes to furnishing our homes, and she spotted an opportunity for manufacturers and retailers to encourage the sustainable use of our belongings. I highly recommend Crystal as a member of any team.
Dr Jonathan Baldwin
I met Crystal when she was a student at Glasgow School of Art and have followed her career with interest. She has made an enormous impact on those she has worked with and been welcomed by stakeholders in the rural north east of England. During the pandemic I employed Crystal to act as a student liaison helping those stranded overseas as well as those in lockdown in the UK to remain connected to their peers and engaged with the programme. Crystal went above and beyond and helped ensure that students still had a great experience despite the situation. Crystal is a team player but with an independent spirit who can be trusted with responsibility. She brings energy to any situation but is also sensitive to the needs and context of those she’s working with. She’s also an independent learner - if she doesn’t know how to do something she soon will. Her English is excellent and she is comfortable running workshops and giving presentations to large groups whether they are locals, senior managers, or diplomats. Her MRes research project on the circular economy revealed a lot about our habits when it comes to furnishing our homes, and she spotted an opportunity for manufacturers and retailers to encourage the sustainable use of our belongings. I highly recommend Crystal as a member of any team.
Dr Jonathan Baldwin
I met Crystal when she was a student at Glasgow School of Art and have followed her career with interest. She has made an enormous impact on those she has worked with and been welcomed by stakeholders in the rural north east of England. During the pandemic I employed Crystal to act as a student liaison helping those stranded overseas as well as those in lockdown in the UK to remain connected to their peers and engaged with the programme. Crystal went above and beyond and helped ensure that students still had a great experience despite the situation. Crystal is a team player but with an independent spirit who can be trusted with responsibility. She brings energy to any situation but is also sensitive to the needs and context of those she’s working with. She’s also an independent learner - if she doesn’t know how to do something she soon will. Her English is excellent and she is comfortable running workshops and giving presentations to large groups whether they are locals, senior managers, or diplomats. Her MRes research project on the circular economy revealed a lot about our habits when it comes to furnishing our homes, and she spotted an opportunity for manufacturers and retailers to encourage the sustainable use of our belongings. I highly recommend Crystal as a member of any team.
Dr Jonathan Baldwin
I met Crystal when she was a student at Glasgow School of Art and have followed her career with interest. She has made an enormous impact on those she has worked with and been welcomed by stakeholders in the rural north east of England. During the pandemic I employed Crystal to act as a student liaison helping those stranded overseas as well as those in lockdown in the UK to remain connected to their peers and engaged with the programme. Crystal went above and beyond and helped ensure that students still had a great experience despite the situation. Crystal is a team player but with an independent spirit who can be trusted with responsibility. She brings energy to any situation but is also sensitive to the needs and context of those she’s working with. She’s also an independent learner - if she doesn’t know how to do something she soon will. Her English is excellent and she is comfortable running workshops and giving presentations to large groups whether they are locals, senior managers, or diplomats. Her MRes research project on the circular economy revealed a lot about our habits when it comes to furnishing our homes, and she spotted an opportunity for manufacturers and retailers to encourage the sustainable use of our belongings. I highly recommend Crystal as a member of any team.
Credentials
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Data Science Foundations: Fundamentals
LinkedInDec, 2022- Sep, 2024 -
Advance Your Skills in UX Design
LinkedInNov, 2022- Sep, 2024 -
Figma for UX Research: Presentations that Stand Out
LinkedInNov, 2022- Sep, 2024 -
Project Management Foundations
LinkedInNov, 2022- Sep, 2024
Experience
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Design Associate (secondment)
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Jan 2023 - Present
o Apply design thinking methodology and human-centric research methods to engage with SMEs in rural communities, resulting in the development of innovative products and services o Communicate with stakeholders and engage with users to gather insights into complex problems and opportunities, enabling the creation of effective solutions o Design and facilitate interactive workshops, both online and face-to-face, to drive discovery, definition, and development o Provide tailored business support to SMEs, with a focus on digitisation and circular economy practices Show less
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Rural Design Centre
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United Kingdom
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Non-profit Organizations
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1 - 100 Employee
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Design Associate
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Apr 2022 - Present
o Work through research, design, prototype, and iteration stages in projects o Design and deliver innovative projects, using digital tools to improve project outcomes and deliverables o Communicate effectively with stakeholders and engage with users to gather insights into complex problems and opportunities, using virtual collaboration platforms to facilitate remote engagement o Design and facilitate interactive workshops both online and face-to-face, leveraging digital tools to drive engagement and results o Identify the design challenge areas to focus on, scope out and plan a project (including writing funding bid, work breakdown structure, design brief etc.) Show less
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Innovation Futures
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Australia
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Government Relations Services
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Co-Founder
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Jun 2021 - Present
o Co-founded and managed an online community for designers and user researchers, attracting over 800 members o Curated cutting-edge design and innovation content and facilitated discussion and collaboration among members o Developed and managed the platform's digital presence, using social media and other digital marketing tools to grow the community o Co-founded and managed an online community for designers and user researchers, attracting over 800 members o Curated cutting-edge design and innovation content and facilitated discussion and collaboration among members o Developed and managed the platform's digital presence, using social media and other digital marketing tools to grow the community
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ROSSO FASHION & ARTS EDUCATION
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China
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Education Administration Programs
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1 - 100 Employee
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Project Consultant
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Apr 2021 - Apr 2022
o Conducted lectures on innovation design, sharing cutting-edge insights and trends in the field o Contributed to clients' innovative projects in educational institutions, providing expert guidance and support o Implemented digital teaching and learning strategies, using technology to enhance the learning experience and promote collaboration o Conducted lectures on innovation design, sharing cutting-edge insights and trends in the field o Contributed to clients' innovative projects in educational institutions, providing expert guidance and support o Implemented digital teaching and learning strategies, using technology to enhance the learning experience and promote collaboration
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International Innovation Center of Tsinghua University, Shanghai
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China
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Think Tanks
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1 - 100 Employee
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Research Associate
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Dec 2021 - Feb 2022
o Completing the documentation for the Design Futures International Conference. o Collating relevant theories, practices, relevant scholars mentioned in the Conference o Helping build the Design Futures digital open source platform o Completing the documentation for the Design Futures International Conference. o Collating relevant theories, practices, relevant scholars mentioned in the Conference o Helping build the Design Futures digital open source platform
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The Glasgow School of Art
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United Kingdom
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Higher Education
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300 - 400 Employee
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Studio Assistant
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Oct 2020 - Aug 2021
o Assisted academic staff in delivering digital teaching and learning on the MDes Design Innovation programme during the COVID-19 pandemic o Supported international students in adapting to living and studying in the UK, providing guidance and advice on a range of topics o Implemented digital tools and technology to facilitate remote collaboration and communication among students and staff o Assisted academic staff in delivering digital teaching and learning on the MDes Design Innovation programme during the COVID-19 pandemic o Supported international students in adapting to living and studying in the UK, providing guidance and advice on a range of topics o Implemented digital tools and technology to facilitate remote collaboration and communication among students and staff
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Education
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The Glasgow School of Art
Master of research, Research and Development Management -
The Glasgow School of Art
Master's degree, Design innovation -
South China Agriculture University
Bachelor of Engineering - BE, Wood Science and Engineering