Hi I'm

Zhu Giulia Jiangxian


I am a designer with Italian–Chinese roots, moving between visual communication, interaction design, and early-stage research. My work sits within Human–Computer Interaction, approached from a design-driven and practice-based perspective. I’m especially interested in how people emotionally relate to technology in their everyday lives.

I work through a Research through Design approach: observing, listening, prototyping, and iterating to explore questions around care, trust, and the role of technology in supporting wellbeing and inclusion. Much of my recent work involves qualitative research and co-design, staying close to people’s lived experiences and transforming insights into tangible interactions or small experiential prototypes.

At the same time, I remain strongly connected to my background in visual communication. I enjoy translating complex ideas into clear visual stories, building small objects or interfaces, and shaping moments that feel thoughtful, gentle, or quietly playful. Working across academic environments, international programs, and multicultural communities has taught me how to adapt, communicate with clarity, and collaborate with openness.

#Human–AI Interaction #Emotional Design #Research through Design #More-than-Human Design #Care & Inclusion
China Italy
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2020 -> 2023
BA Graphic Design

Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna

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2022/2023
Exchange

Hochschule Augsburg

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2023 -> 2025
MS Digital & Interaction Design

Politecnico di Milano

Academic & Research Activities

Teaching Assistant
Sustainable Interaction Design, Politecnico di Milano

2025–2026

Research Assistant
Design Intelligences Institute, Politecnico di Milano

Jun–Nov 2025

Research Apprenticeship
Design Intelligences Institute, Politecnico di Milano

Mar–Jul 2025


Publications

Zhu, G. J., Pei, X., & Gaggioli, A. (2026). ALONG the Line of Emotional Support: Reimagining AI Companions for Young Adults’ Wellbeing. DRS2026 Conference Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.1060

Giaccardi, E., Lindley, J., Lupetti, M. L., Zhu, G. J., & Murray-Rust, D. (2026). Co-Speculating with AI: From Prompts to Practices. DRS2026 Conference Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.1899

Costa, F., Poli, A., & Zhu, G. J. (2026). Learning and disseminating sustainable interaction design through video making. INTED 2026 Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.21125/inted.2026.2181

Zhu, G. J., Mou, Z., Cosentino, S., Song, Z., Borsato, A., & Giaccardi, E. (2025). Ripples: Voices of the Lagoon — Attuning to Multispecies Justice through Tangible and Embodied Interaction. DIS ’25 Companion, 251–254. ACM. https://doi.org/10.1145/3715668.3735596


Awards & Exhibitions

Core77 Design Awards
DNA Paris Design Awards
Award360
Milano Design Week
UX Design Awards
Life, Like Bagels

One of my hobbies is making bagels. It might sound random, but I enjoy the process — mixing, shaping, waiting, and baking. It’s not always perfect, but it’s satisfying to see small improvements each time.

For me, it’s similar to design: it takes time, experimentation, and patience. Sometimes things don’t work as planned, but you learn from it. And when it comes out right, it’s a quiet reminder that even small steps and retries matter.

Thanks for Visiting!

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© Giulia Jiangxian Zhu’s Portfolio 2026