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Designer Profile

Imperial College London
Interview with Yihan Dong and Dr. Kenny Malpartida Cardenas

What is one myth about design you would like to challenge?

That design focuses only on solving problems. We believe that design can also raise questions, evoke discomfort, or create space for silenced narratives. In ViWipe, for example, we did not try to simply 'fix' menstruation stigma. We chose to spotlight it, working with the taboo rather than around it.

What is a non-design hobby or interest that impacts your creativity?

We are deeply fascinated by the natural world, especially fungi, insects, and fossils. Their forms, systems, and strange intelligences always inspire us to think beyond anthropocentric design. We also read a lot of feminist and speculative literature, which shapes how we think about power, care, and embodiment in our works.

What strengths does your team bring that others might not have?

As an all-female team working on feminist design and healthcare, we're uniquely positioned to challenge stigma from within the system. Our backgrounds, ranging from biotech to speculative design, give us access to both hard science and critical imagination. We're also fortunate to have support and access to resources from Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art, which allow our concepts to move from speculation to validation.