My name is Ashley Autumn Chen (陈颖秋). I am an Asian Canadian born and raised in Shanghai, China. I was educated under a British system in my middle school and high school years before I landed in Pasadena, California to pursue a degree in Environmental Design. Being immersed in the traditions of various cultures, I have been trained to capably adapt to different cultural practices at a young age. This also plays a large part in the development of my design philosophy. I believe that beauty and virtue is universal, and I know there is unity when we focus on what we have in common through the joys and sorrows of the human experience. A well-thought-out design is not just aesthetically pleasing but is able to engage emotions, evoke empathy, encourage compassion, challenge perceptions and bring forth honest discussion. I love design because there are stories that I aim to tell, stories that are altogether lovely.