James Zhou is a Senior Interaction Designer at IDEO with a diverse background in philosophy, international diplomacy, and non-profit work. With a Master's degree in Interaction Design from the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design and an Industrial Design Intensive degree from the Umeå Institute of Design, James brings a unique multi-cultural sensitivity to his work. He has further complemented his education by studying Japanese Language and Literature at Waseda University and earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Japanese Language, and Culture from Macalester College.

James specializes in designing thoughtful solutions for complex problems across different industries by taking ownership of the human-centered design process and utilizing a prototyping-to-learn approach. By collaborating with designers, researchers, product managers, engineers, strategists, and cross-functional stakeholders, he is able to turn broad and ambiguous challenges into tangible experiences. He is known for advocating for the people he designs for, leveraging his critical thinking and communication skills to shape strategy and communicate user needs to various stakeholders.

Throughout his career, James has lived and worked in the U.S., China, Japan, Sweden, and Denmark, honing his multicultural sensitivity to empathize with individuals who are not like him and critically examine design solutions. He believes in designing with people in mind and that design can solve difficult real-world problems through interdisciplinary collaboration. As a former Visiting Faculty member at the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design and a Creative Strategist at North Kingdom Design & Communication AB, James has proven experience in the field of design.