A designer’s eye.
An engineer’s hands.
I’m a product designer and design engineer based in San Francisco. I work across product strategy, interaction design, and engineering to build experiences grounded in how people think, feel, and connect.
My background in digital media and psychology led me to the Master in Design Engineering at Harvard and human–AI interaction research at MIT Media Lab.
Download my résumé ↗
Haolei ZhangHow I work
Understand what you’re making.
Build prototypes to learn.
Care about the details.
I’m interested in the needs behind a request. Through research and prototyping, I look for the moments where a product can offer understanding, confidence, or a sense of connection. Then I work through the engineering that brings those moments to life.
Experience
AxiomCode
Co-Founder · Product Strategy & Design Engineering
Building a graph-based code analysis platform for AI coding agents, spanning core engine R&D, product strategy, developer workflows, and engineering integrations.
MIT Media Lab · Critical Matter Group
Research Assistant · AI Product Lead
Led the design and development of AI agents and interactive products. Built Gaze to the Stars, supporting 300+ live user interactions, and Amimi, serving 400+ couples. The work translated human–AI research and relationship-coaching workflows into real experiences.
Chriplink Marketing
Co-Founder · Product Strategy & Design Engineering
Delivered digital transformation and AI-enabled solutions for local businesses, from product and growth strategy to design, engineering, and marketing.
UBC Emerging Media Lab & Everyday Design Studio
Product Design Engineering Consultant
Developed generative-AI creative workflows and Turner Box, an ML-driven biodegradable device for urban bee observation and protection.
Ginkgo Health
Founding Product Engineer
Led the first version of Ginkgo Active, working with users, kinesiology experts, and ML engineers through UX, prototypes, and TestFlight launch.
JD.com · JD Logistics X Lab
Robotic Interaction Designer · Internship
Designed human–robot interaction systems and a framework for civilian logistics robots.
Education
Harvard University
Master in Design Engineering · SEAS + GSD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Visiting Scholar · Media Arts and Sciences
University of British Columbia
Bachelor in Digital Media & Psychology · With distinction
Recognition
Paper reviewer
Two publications
Publication & exhibition
Semifinalist · Amimi
Best Use of AI Award & Infosys Special Nominee
Featured exhibition · Gaze to the Stars
Vehicle-mounted road rage mitigation device