Cecilia Xinyu Zhang

Cecilia was born and raised in Beijing before joining the master’s degree programme at the Academy of Design and Crafts in Gothenburg, Sweden. After graduating, the designer established her studio in Bergen, Norway, where she produces designs intended to alter perceptions of objects and space. Cecilia explores the potential to create optical illusions in everyday products, making two-dimensional objects that expand into 3-D proportions, or creating large-scale designs that look smaller in appearance. For Northern’s debut collection, Cecilia designed space-saving products made with heightened functionalities: an expandable clothes holder that resembles a wall decoration, and a vertical frame where accessories can be stored and displayed. As urban living spaces continue to shrink in size, Cecilia’s work reflects the need to make multifunctional products part of everyday interiors.