Mengni Zhang is a licensed architect and Assistant Professor of Design Studies in the School of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is an interdisciplinary designer, maker, artist and educator whose work draws from architecture, speculative design, robotics, and mixed media to explore unconventional applications of emerging technologies in the built environment. His long-term goal is to create interactive environments that are playful, critical, and reflective while supporting human flourishing.

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Zhang’s research and creative practice center on the broader concept of “soft architecture v2.0.” Using methods from human-centered design, computational design, rapid prototyping, and human-robot interaction, he develops conceptual, artistic, and experimental frameworks for rethinking how environments can respond to and relate with people. His work spans interactive art installations, human-robotic environment interaction, architectural companionship systems, translational design education research, and community-driven projects. His works have been exhibited in galleries and published at IEEE / ACM conferences.

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Zhang holds a PhD in Human Behavior and Design from Cornell University, a Master of Design Studies from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University.