Chen has been working in multi-disciplinary domains for two decades, starting as an engineer then as a 3D illustrator and animator, a Web designer, an Internet system developer, a technical lead and director, a researcher and finally a design educator. Seeking to use computers to complement the capabilities of designers in creative and flexible ways, he integrates his professional practice experience into academic research and applies cognitive design principles and new technologies to create innovative interaction and visualization in design. His research works have won a three-year NSERC postgraduate scholarship and several awards in IEEE VAST challenge competitions.