PhD in Design

Post-doctoral Researcher

Brief Introduction

Xiaolin Shen holds a PhD in Design and is currently a Post-doctoral Researcher at the College of Design and Innovation, Tongji University. She graduated with honors from the School of Design, Politecnico di Milano, and was awarded the National Scholarship by the China Scholarship Council (CSC). She previously served as a Visiting Scholar at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Stirling, UK, focusing on dementia and ageing, and as a PhD Researcher at the DESIS Lab, Politecnico di Milano. Her research focuses on service design, transformative services, service ecosystem design, and systemic well-being. She is particularly interested in the multilevel impacts of services on individuals, relationships, organizations, and social structures in contexts such as ageing care, healthcare, and disability support. From a systemic and dynamic perspective, her work explores the mechanisms through which well-being is generated and examines the role of service design in promoting care innovation, supported decision-making, and social transformation.

Research

Service Design

Transformative Services

Service Ecosystem Design

Systemic Well-being

Ageing and Care

Education Background

2021.11-2026.03  Doctor of Philosophy in Design, School of Design, Politecnico di Milano  

2019.09-2021.10  Master of Science, Product Service System Design, Politecnico di Milano  

2018.09-2021.09  Master of Arts, Product Service System Design, Shanghai International College of Design and Innovation, Tongji University  

2014.09-2018.09  Bachelor of Engineering, Industrial Design, School of Design, Jiangnan University  

Work Experience

2026.05-present  Post-doctoral Researcher, College of Design and Innovation, Tongji University  

2023.11-2024.11  Visiting Scholar, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Stirling, UK

2021.11-2026.03  PhD Researcher, DESIS Lab, Politecnico di Milano  

Design

2026.03-present  Research on the Agency of Persons with Disabilities: Action and Supported Decision-Making (Project Member)

2021.11-2026.03  Service Design to Promote a Systemic and Dynamic Perspective of Well-being in Dementia Care (PhD Project)

2019.09-2021.09  Service Design for Emotional Support of Breast Cancer Patients (Master Project, Politecnico di Milano)

2018.09-2021.09  Research on Service Design of Continuing Care for Elderly Women with Breast Cancer (Master Project, Tongji University)

Publications

[1] Shen, X., & Sangiorgi, D. (2023). A systemic perspective on designing for well-being in dementia care: learning from the case of Dementia Friendly Communities. In IASDR 2023: Life-Changing Design (pp. 1-12). https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2023.774

[2] Shen, X. (2023). Service Design to promote a systemic and dynamic perspective of well-being in dementia care. In IASDR 2023: Life-Changing Design (pp. 1-3). https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2023.808  

[3] Shen, X., & Sangiorgi, D. (2023). Service Design for a systemic and dynamic understanding on well-being. In ServDes. 2023 -Entanglements and Flows Service Encounters and Meanings 11-14 July Rio de Janeiro (pp. 1-22). Linköping University Electronic Press. https://doi.org/10.3384/ecp203053

[4] Gao, B., Shen, X., & Cai, F. (2020). Service Design Research on Continuing Care for Elderly Female Breast Cancer Patients. Zhuangshi, 2020(08), 112–115. https://doi.org/10.16272/j.cnki.cn11-1392/j.2020.08.026  

[5] Gao B., Shen X.(2019). Through service design to improve the HRQOL (Health-Related Quality of Life) in the treatment and rehabilitation of elderly women with breast cancer in Shanghai. In Academy for Design innovation management conference 2019 LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM. doi: 10.33114/adim.2019.04.294

Patents

[1] Utility Model Patent--Anti-rollover Children’s Tricycle (First Patent Holder, Patent No.: ZL201720450985.7)

[2] Utility Model Patent--Adjustable Children’s Tricycle (First Patent Holder, Patent No.: ZL201620405909.X)

[3] Utility Model Patent--Leisure and Road-use Bicycle (First Patent Holder, Patent No.: ZL201520344276.1)

Honors and Awards

[1] 2026.03  Graduated with Honors (cum laude), PhD, Politecnico di Milano  

[2] 2021.06  National Scholarship, China Scholarship Council (CSC)  

[3] 2021.03  Outstanding Paper Award 2020, Zhuangshi Journal  

[4] 2021.01  Master’s Scholarship, Research Innovation Award, Shanghai International College of Design and Innovation, Tongji University  

[5] 2019.06  National Scholarship, China Scholarship Council (CSC)  

[6] 2018.09  Graduated with Honors, Bachelor’s Program, Jiangnan University  

[7] 2016.09  National Scholarship 2016  

[8] 2015.09  National Scholarship 2015  

Contact

Email: xiaolinshen@tongji.edu.cn