Ria Zhang
Hi, I’m Ria Zhang, a Master of Architecture candidate and Integrated Product Design Certificate student at the University of Pennsylvania. Before graduate school, I worked at architecture firms in China, where I contributed to projects ranging from small interiors to large cultural buildings. These experiences laid the foundation for my interest in working across disciplines. At Penn, I’ve expanded that perspective through an education that blends architecture and product design, shaping a practice that values both precision and imagination. I’m drawn to designing across scale—from the intimacy of pottery making to the complexity of grand public space—where materials, stories, and systems intersect. Graduate school has taught me to navigate ambiguity, embrace iteration, and center empathy in the design process. As I move forward, I remain committed to thoughtful, interdisciplinary work that is grounded in curiosity, craft, and care.
