❋ Meet the Purrfect Team
Hi! I’m Charon Zhou ☺
“Being a product designer allows me to express myself, build connections with people, and communicate with the world.”
With a Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction from Cornell University, I bring 3 years of experience designing a wide range of products, including B2C, B2B, and AI solutions.
Central to my design philosophy are principles of accessibility and inclusion, with a focus on leveraging human-centered design and data-driven decision-making to create positive business & social impacts.
Exploring the field of user experience design not only gives me the happiness of helping people solve everyday problems but also makes me become a more humble, caring, and empathetic person.
Let’s connect and explore great ideas together!
Boba 🐾
Associate Purrduct Designer
“I hold a PhD in HCI (Human-Cat Interaction), specializing in analyzing human behavior and emotions. My expertise includes usability testing (a.k.a. knocking things off desks to test product quality, durability, and human reaction time).”
Jelly 🐾
Associate Purrduct Designer
“I specialize in visual design, making everything look pawsome! As a detail-oriented designer, I inspect pixels up close by walking across keyboards and boost creativity by adding the right amount of cat fur to every project (it’s a feature, not a bug).”
✦ My Design Journey
2021 | Irvine, CA
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Navigating from Art to Design
Graduating from the University of California, Irvine with a degree in Studio Arts provided me with a strong foundation in aesthetics and creativity.
But I soon realized that just raising questions through art-making wasn’t enough for me—I wanted to find answers and solve real problems. That’s what led me to product design, where I could blend creativity with problem-solving to craft meaningful user experiences.
2022 - 2023 | Ithaca, NY
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Diving Deep into HCI Academics
To systematically study Human-Computer Interaction, I pursued my master’s degree at Cornell University.
During my studies, I worked in multiple labs as a Research Assistant, focusing on topics such as Human-AI Interaction, Inclusive Design, and Healthcare. On top of that, I worked as a Teaching Research Specialist and mentored over 50 students, helping them kickstart their journey into UX design!
2024 | Multiple Cities in the U.S.
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Startups & Digital Nomading
After earning my master’s degree, I worked as a founding product designer at startups while digital nomading across the U.S.
Driven by a passion for helping underrepresented communities, I joined Polygon Health to build products that foster patient connections and distribute medical resources to underserved populations. It was there that I truly realized the power of design and how it can change lives—something I’m proud to be a part of.
2024 - Present | New York, NY
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Designing for Impact at the Heart of NYC
Motivated by my desire to design for a diverse range of user groups, I joined TheGuarantors and had the opportunity to design at the heart of NYC. It’s been incredibly rewarding to create user experiences for renters and ease their burdens.
By putting myself in the users' shoes, brainstorming innovative design solutions, and collaborating with cross-functional teams, I continuously learn and grow as a more seasoned designer.
My design journey continues…
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Anything worthwhile takes a long time. ✿
✐ Build something meaningful rather than something fast.