Lancelot Chen, EDI '27Design Engineering, Physical Product Design, Tech
About
Lancelot discovered his passion for toy design during his junior year, when a class project revealed the potential of toys as both emotional connectors and technical challenges. Ever since childhood, when he first began collecting toys, he has been fascinated by how form, motion, and interaction shape the way we play. As a designer and engineer, Lancelot enjoys prototyping hands-on and constantly seeks ways to integrate robotics and AI into playful, meaningful experiences. He believes great design begins with joyful interaction and is refined through human-centered iteration. His approach balances intuitive play with mechanical logic, aiming to create toys that are not only delightful but also intelligent and inclusive. Lancelot hopes to establish his own toy design studio, where cross-disciplinary thinking can drive innovation. Outside of design, he is also a photographer who captures landscapes, portraits, and cars.
Portfolio
Why EDI?
Lancelot is passionate about becoming a toy designer who fuses traditional play with cutting-edge technologies like AI and robotics. His long-term goal is to establish his own toy design studio—one that reimagines how toys can engage, educate, and inspire. The EDI program is a perfect fit for his ambitions. Its interdisciplinary structure will equip him with the industrial design, engineering, and business skills required to lead a company that creates innovative, market-ready smart toys. Through EDI, Lancelot hopes to grow not only as a designer and engineer but as a visionary capable of shaping the future of play.
Experience before EDI
BFA, Industrial Design, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Personal Interests
My photography Instagram: @lancelotchen0116
