Zijian Chen received MFA in Lighting Design from Parsons School of Design in 2025, following her BA in Lighting Design from Shanghai Theatre Academy. Before pursuing master’s degree, she contributed to numerous theatre projects at the Shanghai International Arts Festival, establishing a strong foundation in performance lighting.

Zijian’s lighting journey began in theatre, where four years of professional lighting training deepened her love for storytelling through light. She cherishes the moments when audiences immerse themselves in the atmosphere she creates, finding joy in weaving narratives through lighting design. Her theatrical background allows her to seamlessly blend dramatic narratives with architectural lighting, focusing on crafting immersive, emotionally resonant environments.

WORKING EXPERIENCE

L'Observatoire International 06/2024 - Present

Lighting Design Intern New York, USA

TUNGSTEN Lighting Design 04/2023 - 06/2023

Lighting Internship Shanghai, China

Theatrical Lighting designer 2020 - Present