The Living Marketplace: A Visual Ethnography of Cultural Exchange in Xizhou Market
This project presents a visual ethnography of the vibrant, everyday transactions and embodied practices within the periodic market of Xizhou, Yunnan, China. Developed as a web-based 3D Virtual Gallery using Three.js, the project functions as a "living archive" that records local knowledge and social relations through an immersive, first-person roaming experience. By moving beyond top-down institutional heritage narratives, the gallery utilizes a thematic Cluster Tree to reorganize 56 field photographs into networks of local culture—ranging from traditional Bai headwear to regional medicinal herbs. This spatialized narrative encourages "slow looking" and treats digital media not just as a recording tool, but as a critical intervention that reclaims the marketplace as a social space full of memory, emotion, and lived history
Year: 2025
Adam & Susie’s Face
It is an educational digital game designed for children aged seven and above, specifically targeting those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The game aims to help children recognize and appropriately respond to facial expressions in specific real-world scenarios, fostering social skills development in a fun, supportive environment. Developed in collaboration with an Applied Behavior Analysis therapist, the game was tested with two children with ASD to ensure it was therapeutic and engaging.
The game features two key mechanics:
Facial Expression Matching – Players drag faces showing three emotions (happy, angry, sad) and match them with the character, Adam. After each match, prompts appear to explain the emotion and its social implications.
Interactive Dialogue – Players type sentences to Adam, who responds by changing his facial expression. It helps children practice recognizing facial cues and formulating appropriate verbal responses.
Built on the Scratch platform, with elements of machine learning, the game provides a dynamic and adaptive learning experience tailored to the emotional and social needs of children with ASD.
Year: 2018
Echo
It is a portable journal app designed to help users reflect on their daily lives and enhance mindfulness. Developed using Android Studio and Java, with the interface designed in Figma, Echo encourages users to not only record their experiences but also reflect on and learn from their past.
I was responsible for both the interface design and app programming. The app's unique mechanics support users in their mindfulness practice, making it more than just a journal but a tool for personal growth.
Year: 2019
Team Member: Leina Lei