We had the good fortune of connecting with Xin Feng and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Xin, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I pursued a career in the artistic and creative field because I’ve always been deeply passionate about using technology and design to enhance individual well-being across various aspects such as health, cognition, emotion, and social relationships. From a young age, I was drawn to the idea of exploring and creating new things, and this passion only grew stronger as I delved deeper into the design world during my education.

Starting as an architecture major student, I gained a foundational understanding of design principles and human-centric approaches. This background greatly influenced my creative journey and shaped my focus on human-centered design.

My professional experience further enriched my creative path. Prior to joining Meta Reality Labs, I had the opportunity to work at Tencent game studio as a technical artist/engineer. In this role, I specialized in Houdini generative design for a 3A IP game, where I focused on delivering a human-centered gameplay experience. This experience allowed me to combine my technical skills with artistic creativity, contributing to a memorable and engaging user experience.

Through personal research projects and the work at Reality Labs, I continue to channel my passion for creative technology and design into projects that bridge physical and virtual worlds using XR and other innovative modalities. What drives me in this career is the ability to think outside the box, generate novel ideas, and create unexpected interactions that resonate with audiences. I believe that creativity is not just about producing something new, but about imbuing it with clear design logic, meaningful human experiences, and ensuring its feasibility for implementation.

My creative journey has been fueled by a desire to innovate, explore, and contribute to a world where technology and design converge to improve lives and inspire imagination.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My artistic work delves into themes centered around individual well-being, exploring the intersections of health, cognition, emotion, and social relationships through the lens of emerging technologies like XR. One of my notable collaborations with Tiange Wang resulted in the creation of SinkInSync and SynCocreate, innovative VR-based platforms that leverage cross-person EEG neurofeedback.

SinkInSync and SynCocreate represent a pioneering approach to interactive art, enabling pairs of individuals to engage with each other’s brainwave data on a 3D virtual canvas. These platforms facilitate collaborative neurofeedback, enhancing co-creativity and emotional connections. SinkInSync uses real-time brainwave data to dynamically render 3D scenes and synchronizes visual cues with the brainwave frequencies of another user, fostering a unique form of interaction and social bonding.

I am particularly proud of this exploration as it pushes the boundaries of how technology can augment cognitive and emotional social connectedness. Our focus on externally-induced brainwave synchronization between individuals within a VR environment opens up new possibilities for interpersonal communication beyond traditional speech.

As a creative technologist and engineer in VR, my journey to this point has been both challenging and rewarding. Combining design and technical expertise requires a deep understanding of various disciplines, but with experience and continuous learning, I have overcome these challenges and grown in my role.

I’d like to invite you to explore more about SinkInSync and SynCocreate at https://www.in-sync.org/, where you can experience firsthand the innovative fusion of art, technology, and human connection.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d take them to the Japanese Garden hidden in the downtown area. It’s small but contains all the traditional elements typically found in Japanese gardens.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shout out to Chenlu Wang.

Contact information:

Image Credits
Photo credit: Signals Curator Team | Vancouver International Film Festival

Nominate Someone: undefined is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.