Lilian Cao
liliancao360@gmail.com
(415) 638 2621
EducationCORNELL UNIVERSITY / College of Human Ecology / Ithaca, New York
2023-2027 (Expected)
B.Sc Design + Environmental Engineering with a focus in Urban Design
Relevant Coursework: Human Centered Design Methods, Construction Documentation, Design for Workplace Management, Sustainable Design,
Design Graphics and Visualization, Global Urban Studies, Field-Based Urban Analysis.
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT / Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering / Delft, Netherlands
Spring 2026
Exchange Semester
Relevant Coursework: Materials and Manufacturing, Reimagining Mobility, Computer-Aided Design, Experience/Motivation/Behavior.
ActivitiesTHREAD MAGAZINE / Cornell University Independent Organization / Ithaca, New York
Design Lead (Fall 2025)
Responsible for assembling layout of semesterly magazine issue and ensuring that final product is high-quality.
Managed design team of 25 people and led visual creative direction for issue.
Communicated between internal magazine leadership, myself, and third-party print companies about printing specifications, visual expectations, and
quality standards.
Design Director (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)
Responsible for 20% of total magazine layout. Oversaw magazine production timeline, delivered iterative feedback for design team of 25 people.
MEDIUM DESIGN COLLECTIVE / Cornell University Independent Organization / Ithaca, New York
Editorial Subteam Lead (Fall 2025)
Treasurer (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)
ExperienceCORNELL UNIVERSITY / Office of Sorority & Fraternity Life / Ithaca, New York
Media Intern (August-December 2025)
CORNELL UNIVERSITY / Campus Activities Office / Ithaca, New York
President of CUTonight Funding Commission (Fall 2025)
Worked under Campus Activites Office to allocate $160k+ yearly in university funds towards student organization activities.
Reviewed 54 budgets and applications during the fall semester requesting a total of $120k in allocations.
Skills
Software: Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Lightroom), Rhino3D, Revit, SketchUp, Enscape, AutoCAD, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Canva, Figma, Blender, Sims 4, Minecraft.
Experience with
Epilog laser cutting.
Rudimentary carpentry; band saw, table saw, chop saw, drill punch, wood router, hotwiring.
Sewing, by hand or with machine; hemming, darting, pleating, ruching.
Human Subjects Research (IRB) Certified (2024-2027).
Formerly CPR certified (2022-2024).
Languages: English (native speaker), Cantonese (intermediate profiency), Mandarin (intermediate profiency), French (intermediate proficiency), Dutch (learning).
Interests Architecture.
Urban planning, design, and history.
Industrial design.
Interior architecture & design.
Graphic design.
Digital photography.
Baking, cooking.
Other TEMPLE OF ZEUS CAFE / Cornell University College of Arts & Sciences / Ithaca, New York
Student Worker (May 2025 - Present)
STARBUCKS COFFEE / Belmont, California
Barista (August 2021 - May 2023)
References upon request.