Shan Chen
London,United Kingdom
Summary
Strategic Interior Designer with six years of experience in hospitality, F&B, and wellness projects from concept to construction. Expertise in translating business objectives and user needs into effective spatial solutions, prioritising functionality alongside aesthetics. Currently pursuing an MA in Interior Design at the Royal College of Art, enhancing skills in research-led design and adaptive reuse. Experienced in presenting projects in both English and Chinese.
Overview
5
5
Languages
4
4
years of post-secondary education
6
6
years of professional experience
Work history
Interior Designer
GuBu Design Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen
2021.01 - 2023.07
- Led hospitality, restaurant and wellness projects from client briefing through design delivery.
- Developed concept design, space planning, visualisations, material palettes and presentation packages.
- Presented design proposals directly to clients, communicating design strategies and guiding projects through multiple approval stages.
- Facilitated client workshops to clarify operational requirements, customer profiles, seating strategies, business positioning, investment budgets and brand identity, laying groundwork for concept development.
- Collaborated with fire consultants, technical teams, material specialists and contractors to ensure seamless project delivery and adherence to design specifications.
- Performed regular site inspections to identify and resolve construction issues, maintaining high standards of design quality throughout project execution.
- Returned to the practice following experience at YANG & Associates and promoted to independently lead commercial interior projects.
- Worked within a fast-paced studio environment delivering multiple projects simultaneously.
- Selected Achievements
- Delivered over 60 commercial interior projects
- 45+ projects completed and constructed
- Project scales ranging from under 200 to 20,000
- Restaurant, Wellness Spa and Private Club sectors
- Earned repeat commissions through direct client recommendation
Assistant Interior Designer
YANG & Associates Group
Shenzhen
2020.07 - 2021.01
- Produced CAD drawings and presentation materials.
- Conducted concept research and precedent studies to inform spatial planning decisions.
- Collaborated with R&D team on innovative hospitality interior projects, contributing to design development.
- Partnered with multidisciplinary design teams to integrate diverse perspectives into hospitality projects.
- Studied international hospitality design workflows to enhance project execution.
Interior Designer
GuBu Design Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen
2018.07 - 2020.07
- Created detailed concept drawings and layouts, delivering engaging client presentations to communicate design vision.
- Collaborated on design concepts for restaurants, wellness spas and private clubs, enhancing aesthetic appeal and functionality.
- Aided senior designers in design development and project coordination, ensuring alignment with project goals and timelines.
Interior Design Assistant
Colour World Space Design
Foshan
2017.07 - 2018.07
- Produced detailed CAD drawings, engaging presentation layouts, and comprehensive material boards to effectively communicate design concepts.
- Collaborated on restaurant interior design projects, assisting in design development and execution.
- Coordinated project documentation, ensuring timely updates and alignment with project goals.
Education
MA - Interior Design
Royal College of Art
London 2025.01 - 2026.01
Diploma - Architectural Decoration Engineering Technology
Jiangxi University of Applied Science
2014.01 - 2017.01
Skills
- Hospitality Design
- Restaurant (F&B)
- Wellness & Spa
- Concept Development
- Spatial Planning
- AutoCAD
- SketchUp
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe InDesign
- Client Briefing
- Client Presentation
- Stakeholder Communication
- Project Coordination
- Construction Coordination
- Site Inspection
LANGUAGES
Chinese
Native
English
Professional Working Proficiency
Experienced presenting design projects, participating in tutorials and communicating professionally without translation support.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Portfolio Development & English Preparation
- Aug 2023 — Apr 2025
- Dedicated this period to preparing a postgraduate portfolio for international study while developing professional English communication skills, leading to admission to the Royal College of Art.
PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
- 6+ years professional practice
- 60+ hospitality & commercial projects
- 45+ completed projects
- End-to-end project delivery
- Direct client-facing experience
- Commercial design strategy
- Research-led design thinking
- Royal College of Art MA
Timeline
MA - Interior Design
Royal College of Art
2025.01 - 2026.01
Interior Designer
GuBu Design Co., Ltd.
2021.01 - 2023.07
Assistant Interior Designer
YANG & Associates Group
2020.07 - 2021.01
Interior Designer
GuBu Design Co., Ltd.
2018.07 - 2020.07
Interior Design Assistant
Colour World Space Design
2017.07 - 2018.07
Diploma - Architectural Decoration Engineering Technology
Jiangxi University of Applied Science
2014.01 - 2017.01