# Portfolio Content — Xiaohan “Alex” Chen
## Core tagline
**Dev, Journalist, Designer**
Expanded version:
**Dev, Journalist, Designer. Builder of tools, stories, and visual systems.*
## Hero
**Eyebrow:** Dev · Journalist · Designer
**Headline:** I build data-driven stories, AI tools, and visual products.
**Subheadline:**
I work at the intersection of journalism, development, design, data visualization, and product thinking — turning complex information into tools, stories, and interfaces people can actually use.
**Primary CTA:** View my work
**Secondary CTA:** Read my writing
## One-line identity
I’m a developer, journalist, and designer building tools, stories, and visual systems that make complex information usable.
## Short bio
I’m Alex Chen — a Northwestern Journalism and Economics student, data journalist, developer, designer, and NCAA Division I / Canadian National Team fencer.
## About
My work connects three modes of thinking: reporting, building, and designing. As a journalist, I investigate systems and translate complexity into stories. As a developer, I build tools that make data easier to process, analyze, and use. As a designer, I care about how information feels, flows, and becomes understandable through interfaces, visuals, and product experiences.
I’ve worked across venture media, consulting research, AI experimentation, social media growth, and sports data journalism. At TechNexus Venture Collaborative, I researched venture capital trends, startup ecosystems, investment activity, and emerging technology sectors. At Roland Berger, I worked with large operational and market datasets and built Python-based workflows that reduced data processing time by around 30%. I also founded Data Journalism in Fencing, a niche media platform generating 13.9K+ views through data-driven reports and visual storytelling.
Across everything I make, I’m interested in one question: **how can we turn messy information into something people can actually use?**
## Portfolio intro
I don’t fit cleanly into one box — and that’s the point.
I report like a journalist, prototype like a developer, and shape information like a designer. My work moves between data visualization, AI tools, product ideas, editorial strategy, and visual storytelling. Whether I’m analyzing venture ecosystems, building Python workflows, designing a digital story, or visualizing fencing data, I’m trying to make complexity clearer, more useful, and more human.
## Suggested navigation
- Work
- Writing
- Data & Visualization
- Design
- Builds
- About
## Featured work
### Data Journalism in Fencing
**Role:** Founder / Data Journalist / Visual Storyteller
**Category:** Data Journalism
Built a niche digital media platform covering fencing through data-driven analysis, visual reporting, and audience-first storytelling. Produced reports that generated 13.9K+ views and grew followers by 280% in two weeks through analytics-driven distribution across Substack and social platforms.
**Tags:** Data journalism · Sports analytics · Visualization · Audience growth · Substack
**Metrics:** 13.9K+ views · 280% follower growth in two weeks
### Roland Berger Data Workflow Tools
**Role:** Research Intern / Developer / Data Analyst
**Category:** Development
Developed Python-based tools and workflows to transform large operational and market datasets into analysis-ready formats. Streamlined data preparation and analysis processes, reducing turnaround time by approximately 30% and supporting client-facing strategy work across consulting projects.
**Tags:** Python · SQL · Data pipelines · Consulting · Automation
**Metric:** ~30% faster processing time
### TechNexus Venture Editorial Work
**Role:** Editorial Intern / Venture Researcher / Emerging Tech Writer
**Category:** Journalism
Completed an editorial internship focused on venture capital, startups, investment activity, and emerging technology. Researched founder stories, startup ecosystems, and innovation trends to support insight-driven content for venture and startup audiences.
**Tags:** Venture capital · Startups · Editorial strategy · Research · Emerging tech
### Knight Lab AI Research
**Role:** AI Research Contributor / Designer-Builder
**Category:** AI
Contributed to applied AI research by fine-tuning Stable Diffusion models using LoRA to improve machine learning dataset quality. Worked with an interdisciplinary team on experimentation, documentation, and workflow optimization.
**Tags:** AI · Stable Diffusion · LoRA · Research · Workflow design
**Metric:** Six-person interdisciplinary team
### Huamao Group Digital Growth
**Role:** New Media Intern / Content Strategist / Visual Communicator
**Category:** Design / Growth
Supported short-form video and social media campaigns that generated over 1M views and 100K likes. Used keyword analysis and A/B testing to improve engagement by 40% and accelerate follower growth by 25%.
**Tags:** Social media · Growth · A/B testing · Content strategy · Visual design
**Metrics:** 1M+ views · 100K+ likes · 40% engagement increase · 25% follower-growth acceleration
## Experience
### TechNexus Venture Collaborative — Editorial Intern
**Dates:** March 2026 – June 2026
**Location:** Chicago, IL
Completed an editorial internship focused on venture capital, startups, and emerging technology.
- Analyzed venture capital trends and emerging technology sectors.
- Produced insight-driven content on startups, investment activity, and innovation ecosystems.
- Conducted founder and investor research to support reports and newsletters for venture and startup audiences.
### Roland Berger — Project Team Assistant & Research Intern
**Dates:** July 2025 – Present
**Location:** Beijing, China / Remote
Supported consulting projects through data analysis, research, and workflow optimization.
- Analyzed large operational and market datasets to support client strategy and data-driven decision-making.
- Built Python-based workflows that reduced data processing time by approximately 30%.
- Supported multiple concurrent projects across industries while collaborating with senior stakeholders.
### Data Journalism in Fencing — Founder
**Dates:** May 2025 – Present
**Location:** Evanston, IL
Founded and scaled a niche media platform focused on data-driven fencing coverage.
- Produced visual reports and data-driven industry insights that generated 13.9K+ views.
- Built multi-platform growth strategies across Substack and social media.
- Increased followers by 280% in two weeks through analytics-driven content optimization.
### Knight Lab at Northwestern — Member
**Dates:** May 2025 – Present
**Location:** Evanston, IL
Worked on applied AI research, experimentation, and collaborative workflow design.
- Fine-tuned Stable Diffusion models using LoRA to improve machine learning dataset quality.
- Collaborated with a six-person interdisciplinary team.
- Used Notion and project management tools to coordinate experimentation and documentation.
### Huamao Group — New Media Specialist Intern
**Dates:** July 2024 – August 2024
**Location:** Beijing, China
Supported digital growth through short-form video, social media campaigns, and performance testing.
- Contributed to social content that generated 1M+ views and 100K+ likes.
- Conducted keyword research and A/B testing.
- Improved engagement by 40% and accelerated follower growth by 25%.
## Skills
### Development
Python · SQL · Data cleaning · Workflow automation · Tool-building · AI experimentation · Data pipelines
### Journalism
Data journalism · Investigative reporting · Venture analysis · Sports reporting · Research · Newsletters · Editorial strategy
### Design
UI/UX · Graphic design · Product thinking · Visual storytelling · Information design · Social media visuals · Brand systems
### Data & Visualization
Data analysis · Data visualization · Audience analytics · A/B testing · Dashboard thinking · Sports analytics · Narrative visualization
### AI & Tools
Stable Diffusion · LoRA fine-tuning · AI-assisted workflows · Custom productivity tools · Applied AI experimentation
## Education
**Northwestern University**
Bachelor of Science, Journalism & Economics
Expected graduation: June 2027
GPA: 3.76/4.0
**Honors:**
2024–25 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar · 2024–25 Academic All-Big Ten · 5x Dean’s List
**Relevant coursework:**
Sports Data Journalism · Journalism Research Methods · Data Visualization & Story · Techniques of Investigative Journalism · Media Law & Ethics · Fundamentals of Computer Programming · Microeconomics · Macroeconomics
## Athletics
**Student-athlete and national team fencer**
- Canadian Fencing National Team Member
- NCAA Division I Women’s Fencing Student-Athlete
- World Fencing Championships qualifier
- NCAA Fencing Championships qualifier
- Multiple-time Canadian National Fencing Champion
## Footer bio
Xiaohan “Alex” Chen is a Journalism and Economics student at Northwestern University, a Canadian National Team fencer, and a builder working across data journalism, development, design, AI, and product. Alex has worked with TechNexus Venture Collaborative, Roland Berger, Knight Lab, Huamao Group, and founded Data Journalism in Fencing.
