Philadelphia, PA – A transformative exhibition titled “On the Critical Point: Wanderlust and Nostalgia in the New Age” has officially launched at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (Penn Museum).
This collaborative presentation, organized by New York-based VSDesign, DesignPhiladelphia, and ALT Alliance, seeks to spark reflection and inspire a deeper sense of human connection in an increasingly post-human age. Opening in November, this dynamic showcase features work by prominent product designers Hui Jing and Jinda Zhong, among other acclaimed artists like Qin Zhao, Hongtao Sun, and Tong Wang.
Hui Jing and Jinda Zhong, as Lead Product Designers, bring forward their remarkable project, TravelBot. As a digital solution crafted to assist graduate students and working professionals, TravelBot integrates AI technology to optimize travel experiences. By focusing on seamless interactions, this project addresses the challenge of balancing academic and work-related travel schedules, underscoring Hui Jing and Jinda Zhong’s commitment to human-centered innovation.Their designs offer audiences a fresh, technologically driven perspective on managing life’s complexities.
The exhibition features 4 pieces of their work “TravelBot”, the digital experiences present on the poster. The design incorporates features like personalized travel reminders, route optimization, and accommodation suggestions, which are all tailored based on users’ synced academic and work calendars. TravelBot’s intuitive interface aims to alleviate the common stresses of travel, creating a smooth, enjoyable, and efficient journey for users. By prioritizing flexibility and user engagement, the design highlights how intelligent technology can be used to enhance productivity while fostering positive travel experiences. Hui Jing and Jinda Zhong’s innovation stands apart, making an impact on both the tech industry and society at large.
Hui Jing and Jinda Zhong’s inclusion in this prestigious exhibition is supported by a robust professional background. As a Senior UX Designer, Hui has led impactful projects, including refining conversational experiences at Microsoft Bing and driving major rebranding efforts at Claris. Hui actively engages with professional communities such as the Interaction Design Association, contributing to advancements in the user experience field. Jinda Zhong is a Lead UX Designer based in Chicago, currently working at The Thalerus Group, where they focus on creating user-centered designs for e-commerce platforms. Jinda played a key role in developing a drag-and-drop GUI Design System, making webstore customization more efficient and visually appealing for users.
Hui Jing and Jinda Zhong’s work has earned multiple prestigious accolades. For the Upband project, they received the 2024 NY Product Design Awards Silver Winner and the DNA Paris Design Awards Winner in Graphic Design / UX Design. The Tikkits project won the 2024 NY Product Design Awards Silver Winner, DNA Paris Design Awards Honorable Mention, DNA Paris Design Awards Winner in Graphic Design, and the K-Design Award 2024 Winner. The TravelBot project, which featured at Penn Museum Exhibition, was also recognized as a 2024 NY Product Design Awards Silver Winner. These awards highlight their exceptional contributions to graphic and user experience design.
Jinda Zhong and Hui Jing’s innovative design work has been showcased internationally, earning recognition for pushing the boundaries of digital and user experience design. In addition to their current exhibition at the Penn Museum, Hui Jing participated in the “INSIDE” exhibition at ISOLART Gallery in Florence, Italy, as part of the 20th Giornata del Contemporaneo organized by AMACI on October 12, 2024. This exhibition explored themes of social boundaries, freedom, and the complexity of gender identity and societal roles.
The historic Penn Museum, with its vast galleries and rich heritage dating back to 1887, provides a compelling backdrop for this exploration of time, culture, and technology. With over 180,000 visitors annually, the museum offers a unique platform for Jinda Zhong and Hui Jing’s pioneering work.
As the art and tech worlds continue to grapple with questions of identity, tradition, and progress, Jinda Zhong and Hui Jing’s TravelBot stands at the intersection, offering a glimpse into the future of stress-free, joyful, and highly scalable travel management through conversational experiences. The exhibition invites attendees on a thought-provoking journey, redefining the possibilities of human and conversational experience interactions in design.
Published by: Josh Tatunay
