Jenova Chen, also known as Xinghan Chen, is the visionary designer behind some of the most influential and artistically celebrated video games of the modern era, including 'Cloud', 'flOw', 'Flower' and 'Journey'. Recognised for redefining the emotional and creative potential of interactive entertainment, Jenova has built an international reputation for combining innovative design with powerful storytelling. Born and educated in Shanghai, he completed a bachelor's degree in Computer Science before moving to Los Angeles to join the founding class of the University of Southern California's Interactive Media and Games Division, where he earned a master's degree. His unique blend of technical expertise and artistic ambition has established him as one of the gaming industry's most respected creative leaders.
Following his studies, Jenova co-founded thatgamecompany alongside fellow graduates and continues to serve as its Founder and Creative Director. Under his leadership, the studio has consistently pushed the boundaries of game design, creating experiences that have transformed perceptions of what video games can achieve as an artistic medium. Beginning with 'Cloud' and 'flOw', Jenova developed a distinctive design philosophy centred on emotion, accessibility, and human connection. This vision reached global acclaim with 'Flower' before culminating in 'Journey', a landmark title praised for its innovative multiplayer experience and emotional depth. 'Journey' became the highest historically rated exclusive PlayStation Network title on Metacritic, while Entertainment Weekly described it as 'A glorious, thoughtful, moving masterpiece', further cementing Jenova's influence on both players and critics worldwide.
Jenova's work has received widespread recognition from leading cultural and industry institutions. 'flOw' was selected as a permanent collection piece by the Museum of Modern Art in New York, highlighting its artistic significance. Both 'Flower' and 'Journey' received the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award for Artistic Achievement and were recognised as Best Independent Game at the Spike TV Video Game Awards. They also earned Best Downloadable Game and Game of the Year honours at both the Game Developers Choice Awards and the DICE Awards. Individually, Jenova was named one of Variety's '10 Innovators to Watch' and was recognised by Fast Company as one of the Most Creative Entrepreneurs in Business across consecutive years. He was also included in MIT Technology Review's prestigious TR35 list celebrating the world's leading innovators under the age of 35.
As a speaker, Jenova offers audiences a rare perspective on the intersection of technology, creativity and human emotion. Drawing on his experiences building an internationally acclaimed studio and creating games that have influenced both popular culture and the wider creative industries, he explains how innovation flourishes when technical excellence is paired with empathy and artistic vision. His engaging presentations explore leadership, creative thinking, storytelling, design philosophy and the future of interactive entertainment, providing practical insights for business leaders, innovators, educators and creative professionals alike. Combining firsthand experience with thoughtful reflections on innovation and collaboration, Jenova inspires audiences to challenge conventional thinking, embrace experimentation and create meaningful experiences that resonate on a global scale.
- 2012 – Appointed President and Creative Director of thatgamecompany, leading the studio in creating timeless interactive entertainment designed to positively impact people around the world
- 2006 – Co-founded thatgamecompany and served as Creative Director, establishing the company and leading the development of the original IPs 'flOw', 'Flower' and 'Journey'
- 2006 – Joined Electronic Arts Maxis as a Game Designer, contributing to the design of 'Spore' for Nintendo DS
- 2005 – Began his MFA at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, conducting thesis research on 'Flow in Games' and developing the web game 'flOw'
- 2005 – Became a Game Designer at the USC EA Game Innovation Lab, designing and prototyping the National Science Foundation serious game 'Immune Attack'
- 2005 – Joined Electronic Arts Los Angeles as a Technical Game Designer Intern, working on 'Tiberium'
- 2005 – Served as Creative Director at the USC EA Game Innovation Lab, leading the production, game design, art direction and gameplay programming for 'Cloud'
- 2005 – Worked as a Background Artist Intern at Electronic Arts Los Angeles, contributing environment art and level design for 'Medal of Honor: European Assault'
- 2004 – Appointed Art Director and Lead Artist at the Annenberg Communication Center, developing the prototype for 'Montage'
- 2004 – Became Lead Artist and Game Designer for the Interactive Media Division at USC CNTV, leading the art and game design for 'Dyadin'
- 2004 – Joined the Institute of Creative Technology as a Level Designer Intern, contributing to the SASO and MRE projects
- 2003 – Worked as a Teaching Assistant in USC's Information Technology Program, teaching advanced game modelling and animation
- 2003 – Created the USC campus map for 'Unreal Tournament 2003' as a Level Artist with the USC Video Game Club
- 2001 – Joined Wonder Gust Studio in Shanghai as Lead Artist, developing 'Saint War: Curse of Rainbow Crystone'
- 2001 – Completed a Production Internship at Ubisoft Shanghai, supporting development of 'Crazy for Song: Summer Rainbow'
How to hire Jenova Chen
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Jenova Chen for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
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