Moira Zhang is an interdisciplinary artist and designer whose work spans immersive storytelling, speculative technology, and visual experimentation. Moving fluidly between Unreal Engine, AR, sound, and code, she constructs mythic and emotional worlds that challenge the boundaries between perception, memory, and machine vision.

Education
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY– New York, USA                                                                                                                                               Sep 2024 – Jun 2026
  • Master’s in Integrated Design & Media
Royal college of art – London, UK                                                                                                                                                             Sep 2022 – Aug 2023
  • Master’s of Research in Communication Design
University of Arts, London – London, UK                                                                                                                                                 Sep 2019 – Jun 2022
  • Bachelor’s in Graphic and Media Design
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology – Melbourne, Australia                                                                                                   Mar 2017 – Jun 2019
  • Foundation and First Year in Visual Communication Design   

Honor & Recognition
  • Finalist, NYU Startup Sprint & Bootcamp (2024) – KaleidoPutt, immersive golf training innovation.
  • Exhibited works at UAL Graduate Show, RCA Showcase, and international group exhibitions
  • Selected RCA Student Rep (2022–2023)                                                                

Professional Experience
Graduate Research Assistant — IDM Audio Lab, NYU                                                                                                                                (Sept 2024–Present)
  • Supported faculty research and project documentation (literature review, data collection, reporting).
  • Assisted with equipment operations and technical setup (audiovisual systems, synthesizer repair, sensors, media hardware).
  • Coordinated project management tasks and cross-team communication.
Sensorium Ex – Opera Project (2024–2025)
Team Member, Technical Prototyping & Volumetric Capture
  • Assisted in 3D printing and sensor testing to support prototype development.
  • Contributed to the volumetric capture pipeline (Evercoast system), preparing assets for integration into performance staging.
  • Collaborated with internationally recognized composer Paola Prestini, producers VisionIntoArt and Beth Morrison Projects, and the NYU Ability Lab.
  • Project supported by major cultural foundations including the Ford Foundation, Alphadyne Foundation, and Nordisk Kulturfond.
Mark Morris Dance Group – VR Project (Brooklyn Navy Yard, 2024)
Collaborator, VR Interface & Interaction Design
  • Designed and prototyped Unreal Engine VR user interfaces to enable immersive navigation and control for performers.
  • Contributed to motion capture and interaction design, linking body movement with VR staging.
  • Collaborated with Mark Morris Dance Group, a world-renowned contemporary dance company, on integrating VR into live education.
Design Mentor London & Online                                                                                                                                                                            Nov 2023 –Present
Independent
  • Guided 20+ undergraduate and graduate students in portfolio development, research, and prototyping.
  • Led workshops on digital media, speculative design, and interactive practices.

Exhibitions & Publications
[A] Maze – Royal College of Art, London, UK                                                                                                                                                   Feb 2023 – Mar 2023
Collaborative Publication and Showcase Participant
  • “Interview with the Future Body”
  • Collaborative publication exploring speculative design and human futures.
  • Authored “Interview with the Future Body”; applied critical theory to interactive generative art.
  • ISBN:978-1-8381535-8-8
London College of Communication Graduate Show – London, UK                                                                                                                              June 2022
Creator of Personal Installation
  • “No Man Is An Island”
  • Interactive sound installation inspired by John Donne’s poem.
  • Combined multi-language translation with generative sound design in TouchDesigner.
The Simulation GameDalian, China                                                                                                                                                                                            Nov 2021
Co-creator and leader of Group Installation "Snailtube"
  • "Snailtube"
  • Co-created an experimental installation exploring post-humanist perspectives through interactive media.

Interships
Alibaba, Beijing (2020) — Co-op Design Project Assistant. Designed key visuals for summit events and conducted market research.
Gushe Design Studio, Zhengzhou (2021) — Branding & Packaging Design Intern.

Skills
  • Creative Tech: TouchDesigner, Unreal Engine 5, Max/MSP, Arduino, Volumetric Capture, 3D Scanning.
  • Design Tools: Adobe Creative Suite (PS, AE, AI, PR), Figma, Spark Studio.
  • Research & Writing: STS, feminist/crip/decolonial theory, speculative design.
  • Languages: English (fluent), Mandarin (native).