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Jingkui Gao
“To this research, ASD is not seen as a disability but rather a unique view of the environment. ”
(Click text to know more about projects)
Design
Change
With
Children
Using Computational Tech
Utilizing Digital Knitting and Responsive system to support communities of children with Autism;
Designing interactive VR games that help children develop children critical thinking skills;
Implementing image-based emotional semantic recognition to provide emotional support to marginalized urban populations;
Exploring the use of natural language processing (NLP) to help architects make more democratic decisions throughout the design process.
Integrating VR into the design process of healthcare wellness spaces;
Engaging in various explorations and designs that leverage digital fabrication techniques;
Developing a drawing app as a practical tool for learning programming languages;
Two schools have already been built and are currently in use
... ...
These are the projects I have undertaken. My future research addresses the question: "How to Design Change With Children Using Computational Tech?" I am excited to explore the positive impact that new technologies can have on children, particularly those who are neurodiverse or have special needs.
Often, this journey isn't just about designing for/with them; it's about learning from them.
Assisted Child-centered therapy Space For Autism
Computational design and fabrication have opened new avenues for creativity and sensory exploration, particularly for autistic children, who often face sensory processing challenges. A suitable sensory environment can aid in regulating stress, improving focus on learning activities, and enhancing social engagement. This study, inspired by Temple Grandin’s “Hug Machine,” aims to develop a therapeutic play space prototype that incorporates elements of play therapy. This prototype features dynamic movement pathways and a responsive system that offers varying levels of pressure through a hybrid textile material.
In this design, the comforting "hug" sensations are created not by a mechanical device, but through thoughtfully integrated CNC-knitted textiles. The tunnel spaces in the play area, some lined with an interactive pneumatic system, allow users to intuitively engage with different modes of pressure based on their play experiences, resulting in a range of deep pressure sensations. The objective is to encourage users to actively seek a mixed sensory experience that provides enhanced feedback, particularly for children who are either over- or under-responsive to sensory inputs.
This project emphasizes leveraging existing technological frameworks to assist children with autism in navigating challenges related to sensory processing and social interaction. Collaboration among experts in architecture, computational design, human-computer interaction, and ASD-focused therapies will be vital throughout the design process.
In this design, the comforting "hug" sensations are created not by a mechanical device, but through thoughtfully integrated CNC-knitted textiles. The tunnel spaces in the play area, some lined with an interactive pneumatic system, allow users to intuitively engage with different modes of pressure based on their play experiences, resulting in a range of deep pressure sensations. The objective is to encourage users to actively seek a mixed sensory experience that provides enhanced feedback, particularly for children who are either over- or under-responsive to sensory inputs.
This project emphasizes leveraging existing technological frameworks to assist children with autism in navigating challenges related to sensory processing and social interaction. Collaboration among experts in architecture, computational design, human-computer interaction, and ASD-focused therapies will be vital throughout the design process.
Cultivating Children Critical Thinking Through AR Games: Epics of Terracotta Warrior
This project explores the potential of augmented reality (AR) games as tools for fostering critical thinking skills. Featuring five characters from various classes of the Qin Dynasty, a significant period in Chinese history, the game invites players to reflect on the complexities of this era. Players investigate how the glorious unification and eventual decline shaped the experiences of different social classes. While war brought prosperity for some, it also led to heavy forced labor for others. The narrative highlights the achievements of the First Emperor on one hand, while also revealing the struggles symbolized by the withered bones beneath the Great Wall.
To enhance the experience, each character is unlocked through engaging mini-games, including puzzles centered around the Terracotta Warriors. Through interactive mechanics, immersive storytelling, and thought-provoking themes, our game aims to provide a rich educational experience that encourages collaboration and reflection, enhancing players’ critical and creative thinking as they navigate real historical scenarios.
To enhance the experience, each character is unlocked through engaging mini-games, including puzzles centered around the Terracotta Warriors. Through interactive mechanics, immersive storytelling, and thought-provoking themes, our game aims to provide a rich educational experience that encourages collaboration and reflection, enhancing players’ critical and creative thinking as they navigate real historical scenarios.
How Human Waste Affects the Environment: Ecology Simulations Using Game Engines
Every day, human life generates a significant amount of waste, including both ecosystem-friendly materials (e.g., biofertilizers) and harmful substances (e.g., non-degradable chemicals). This project abstracts the relationship between human and natural systems by simulating the potential impacts of human-generated waste on the ecosystem through a series of predefined rules and characters. Players can experiment with different characters, observing real-time environmental impacts based on their actions. Through immersive gameplay and realistic scenarios, this initiative aims to deepen understanding of the critical relationship between human activities and ecological health while promoting awareness of sustainable waste management practices.
Facilitating Democratic Participatory Design with Natural Language Processing: The Machine of City
The proposal for “The City Machine” investigates the role of natural language processing (NLP) technologies in enhancing community engagement in the architectural design process. This project aims to empower citizens through simplified communication and foster collaboration, ultimately leading to more inclusive and responsive urban environments that reflect the diverse voices of the community.
A communication platform was created using NLP, allowing for public participation in the design process through commenting, liking, and selecting preferred reference images. Processed high-frequency keyword information can be accessed by designers, providing insights into community needs. Additionally, an architectural app store was conceptually developed, integrating human-computer interaction to promote public involvement. The needs of the community—expressed through text and images—are translated by architects into modular designs within the app store. These modules can subsequently be selected by the public and incorporated into spaces prepared by professionals.
Through this communication platform and design mechanism, it is aimed that all participants in the design process are given a meaningful voice, fostering a collaborative atmosphere for the creation of democratic participatory design together.
Through such a communication platform and design mechanism, I hope that everyone involved in design will have a better voice in design so that we can create a better design together.
A communication platform was created using NLP, allowing for public participation in the design process through commenting, liking, and selecting preferred reference images. Processed high-frequency keyword information can be accessed by designers, providing insights into community needs. Additionally, an architectural app store was conceptually developed, integrating human-computer interaction to promote public involvement. The needs of the community—expressed through text and images—are translated by architects into modular designs within the app store. These modules can subsequently be selected by the public and incorporated into spaces prepared by professionals.
Through this communication platform and design mechanism, it is aimed that all participants in the design process are given a meaningful voice, fostering a collaborative atmosphere for the creation of democratic participatory design together.
Through such a communication platform and design mechanism, I hope that everyone involved in design will have a better voice in design so that we can create a better design together.
Enhancing the Participatory Design Process with AR: Wellness Room Design
Through collaboration with the College of Nurses, this research focuses on enhancing the participatory design experience for users via augmented reality (AR) technology. Utilizing methods such as questionnaires and field research, designers present preliminary solutions for users to experience through AR devices, facilitating iterative design improvements. This design process culminated in the conceptual design of the Wellness Room.
By integrating AR technology, stakeholders can engage in immersive sessions that allow for real-time visualization and modification of design elements. Through interactive simulations, participants can explore layouts, materials, and functionalities, ensuring that the final design meets the diverse needs of users while enhancing their overall wellness experience.
By integrating AR technology, stakeholders can engage in immersive sessions that allow for real-time visualization and modification of design elements. Through interactive simulations, participants can explore layouts, materials, and functionalities, ensuring that the final design meets the diverse needs of users while enhancing their overall wellness experience.
“Tree” of “My home”: Fostering Emotional Connections for Marginalized Groups in Big City
Shenzhen's urban villages, characterized by dense construction and chaotic environments, serve as both scars and refuges amid the city's rapid development. While these areas often symbolize urban challenges, their affordable rents provide essential housing for newcomers, including young people like me.
This proposal aims to use a single tree within the urban village as a medium for community connection. By extracting images and emotions shared by residents on public platforms such as Weibo, these sentiments will be visualized using colored lights designed and installed on the tree. This illumination will transform the tree into a communal beacon, transmitting emotions to residents in the public space. Through this initiative, emotional connections among individuals are expected to be fostered, allowing everyone in the community to feel linked through shared experiences.
In this way, the project provides mental support to marginalized individuals who are integral to the city's vitality. Ultimately, the goal is to change how people perceive their emotional connections to the physical world, thereby influencing their feelings about their environment.
This proposal aims to use a single tree within the urban village as a medium for community connection. By extracting images and emotions shared by residents on public platforms such as Weibo, these sentiments will be visualized using colored lights designed and installed on the tree. This illumination will transform the tree into a communal beacon, transmitting emotions to residents in the public space. Through this initiative, emotional connections among individuals are expected to be fostered, allowing everyone in the community to feel linked through shared experiences.
In this way, the project provides mental support to marginalized individuals who are integral to the city's vitality. Ultimately, the goal is to change how people perceive their emotional connections to the physical world, thereby influencing their feelings about their environment.
Creative Drawing App Development
This project aims to enhance understanding of data structures, data transfer, and functional logic in the Python programming language through the design of a creative drawing software, utilizing the Processing platform. The outcome is a fully developed drawing application that integrates user interface (UI) design, multifunctional drawing brushes, and image-saving capabilities.
Robotic Brick Assembly
The study focuses on traditional brick walls featuring holes and special arrangements as the primary object of investigation. Through the examination of brickwork methods, a novel assembly pattern is proposed that utilizes computer-aided design to influence block laying and subsequently alter the arrangement of holes.
The variability in porosity of the brick arrangement within this model can be linked to computational design considerations such as views, daylighting, and ventilation in architectural design. The assembly is executed using robotic arms, ensuring precision and innovation in construction techniques.
The variability in porosity of the brick arrangement within this model can be linked to computational design considerations such as views, daylighting, and ventilation in architectural design. The assembly is executed using robotic arms, ensuring precision and innovation in construction techniques.
Minimal Surface Research
Minimal surfaces are gaining attention in architecture for their spatial connectivity and material efficiency due to their reduced surface area. In this research project, the exploration began with the question, "What is a minimal surface?" Various modeling approaches for producing minimal surfaces were examined. Ultimately, one approach was selected for implementation—redesigning traditional architectural forms by incorporating minimal surfaces. This study aims to investigate a method for generating minimal surfaces that are not limited to functionally specific architectural designs. The findings may be applicable across diverse fields, including furniture design, sculpture, and optimizing interconnected local spaces.
Im-precise Fit: Exploring Wood Products in Architecture
This project investigates the potential of wood products in the field of architecture, combined with advanced manufacturing techniques.
The research focuses on creating 3D forms through both 2D and 3D cutting operations. Utilizing a 3-axis CNC router, components are crafted that can be assembled in various configurations to enclose a defined volume. These components are designed to be multifunctional, allowing for reconfiguration to alter the shape and size of the space they encompass. This approach fosters a dynamic dialogue between the material mass and the space it contains.
The research focuses on creating 3D forms through both 2D and 3D cutting operations. Utilizing a 3-axis CNC router, components are crafted that can be assembled in various configurations to enclose a defined volume. These components are designed to be multifunctional, allowing for reconfiguration to alter the shape and size of the space they encompass. This approach fosters a dynamic dialogue between the material mass and the space it contains.
Bridge Robotic Fabrication
The 3D Printed Bridge project aims to identify the most effective system for fabricating a 3D printed bridge. Research commenced by examining several existing 3D printed bridge projects, highlighting the significant challenge posed by lengthy printing processes. As a result, the primary goal was established as reducing 3D printing time through structural analysis and topology optimization.
Built Architectural Project: Shenzhen Hongshan Middle School
This project encompassed my full participation in the Shenzhen Hongshan Middle School, from preliminary design through to completion and subsequent use. My involvement provided valuable insights into the various challenges that can arise in architectural practice. I learned to appreciate the differing requirements of civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers compared to architects.
By approaching the design process from multiple perspectives, I facilitated collaboration among professionals, leading to a consensus that successfully transformed the design into a functional and usable structure.
By approaching the design process from multiple perspectives, I facilitated collaboration among professionals, leading to a consensus that successfully transformed the design into a functional and usable structure.
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