Kan-Yen Chen (Ken)

Design Products (MA)
Portrait of Ken (Product designer)
Image of Ken's project about wheelchair
Image of Ken's project about wheelchair
WhirlAway was created to streamline the wheelchair cleaning process, tackling a common but often overlooked issue among new wheelchair users: spatial confusion, the difficulty in distinguishing between outdoor and indoor environments, particularly when entering indoor spaces such as home without first cleaning the wheelchair.
Image of Ken's project about wheelchair
Image of Ken's project about wheelchair
WhirlAway allows users to clean their wheelchairs independently while remaining seated, with the entire process taking around one minute and requiring no external assistance. This eliminates both the inconvenience of cleaning and the discomfort caused by environmental ambiguity. The product’s thoughtful design not only solves a practical problem in an elegant and accessible way but also supports the emotional well-being of users as they navigate a significant life transition.
An experimental chair constructed only from cardboard and binder clips
An experimental chair constructed only from cardboard and binder clips
An experimental chair constructed only from cardboard and binder clips, without the use of any adhesives. This project re-examines the functionality of everyday objects and materials, challenging conventional manufacturing processes and exploring alternative methods of construction. It seeks to redefine how materials can be used, giving new purpose and meaning to familiar components.
Poster of Sous chef
Poster of Sous chef
Sous chef explored how food can act as a catalyst for connection, well-being, and sustainability within hybrid work environments—particularly in addressing the needs and values of Gen Z employees.
Image of Ken's project about wheelchair
Image of Ken's project about wheelchair
An experimental chair constructed only from cardboard and binder clips
Poster of Sous chef

About

Ken is a Taiwanese product designer with a multidisciplinary background that spans transportation design, furniture design, inclusive design, and service design. His practice emphasizes the integration of design research and making, building innovative solutions through careful planning and rapid, iterative prototyping.

During his time at the Royal College of Art, his research focused on wheelchair mobility, aiming to identify and address the everyday challenges faced by wheelchair users in their daily movement, and to develop simple yet effective solutions.

Ken was also a member of the Sodexo Challenge, collaborating with fellow talented designers from the Royal College of Art. The team won 2nd place in Eats & Algorithms: Digitising Food Consumer Experience for a Sustainable Future, a challenge organized by the Royal College of Art in partnership with Sodexo.

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