Yu Nong Khew is founder of Studio Soft Hairy and enjoys tinkering with various materials in her creative process. Her research focuses on zero waste and biodegradable design in the built environment. Her current research and design work range from a desktop 3d print material recycler system to biodegradable knitted objects. She has exhibited internationally, and was named by Architectural Review as one of ten emerging design voices from around the world. Her work received the top prize for American Institute of Architects (AIA) Los Angeles Chapter’s 2x8 Verge award. More recently, she was named "Women of Our Time" in Singapore and served as a World Cities Summit Young Leader. Yu Nong has a Master of Architecture from Southern California Institute of Architecture, and a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from the National University of Singapore.

Yu Nong previously held positions at The New School, Columbia University, and Singapore University of Technology and Design, before joining Wesleyan University's Art and Art History Department and College of Design and Engineering Studies.