Meta Zen Tactile Meditation Playset by Yumeng Li

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DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?

YL : Meta Zen draws inspiration from Zen philosophy, which emphasizes simplicity, tranquility, and the beauty of imperfection (wabi-sabi). The design embodies "simplexity," showcasing infinite possibilities through modularity, aligning with Taoist and Buddhist principles of flow and impermanence.

DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?

YL : The design focuses on creating an inclusive, tactile meditation experience that supports mental well-being. The goal was to provide a modern, accessible way to explore Zen culture, suitable for individual reflection and community creativity.

DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?

YL : Plans include expanding its applications in art therapy, corporate wellness, and public installations. There is potential to enhance the design with technological integration, while continuing collaborations with partners to promote mindful living.

DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?

YL : Development spanned from December 2021 to July 2022, evolving through research, prototyping, and refinement to meet accessibility and sustainability goals.

DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?

YL : Born out of the pandemic's challenges, the design aimed to alleviate quarantine anxiety and digital fatigue. It was self-initiated to explore the therapeutic potential of tactile and modular engagement.

DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?

YL : Meta Zen is designed for mass production using biodegradable materials. Future plans include exploring licensing, collaborations with wellness centers, and potentially producing it independently.

DI: What made you design this particular type of work?

YL : The tactile playset reimagines the Zen garden for modern times, inspired by the calming rituals of arranging natural materials and Taoist geometry. The aim was to bring a hands-on, meditative approach to contemporary wellness.

DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?

YL : The design incorporates Zen and Daoist aesthetics, while modern computational design tools influenced its parametric modularity. Feedback from diverse users also shaped its accessibility features.

DI: Who is the target customer for his design?

YL : Adults seeking stress relief, mindfulness practitioners, visually impaired individuals, elders, and communities interested in collaborative creative expressions.

DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?

YL : Unlike traditional Zen gardens, Meta Zen's modularity, magnetic assembly, and scalability make it accessible, sustainable, and adaptable to various settings, offering infinite creative possibilities.

DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?

YL : "Meta Zen" reflects its aim to transcend traditional Zen garden practices, merging tactile play with meditation to create a modern, transformative experience.

DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?

YL : Computational design software for parametric modeling, 3D printing for prototyping, and traditional craftsmanship to refine tactile elements.

DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?

YL : “Modular Zen”: The patented ridge-and-valley geometry, which allows users to create dynamic, ever-changing Zen patterns, embodies the philosophy of impermanence.

DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?

YL : Collaborations included accessibility experts, material scientists, and designers specializing in parametric modeling and modular systems.

DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?

YL : Technology enabled precision in magnetic assembly and modular design. Computational tools ensured geometric harmony and versatility.

DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?

YL : Research into quarantine anxiety and tactile therapy guided the design, emphasizing non-digital stress relief and sensory engagement.

DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?

YL : Balancing accessibility with aesthetics, ensuring modular scalability, and achieving sustainable production posed significant challenges.

DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?

YL : Recognition by international competitions was pursued to validate the design’s innovative approach to modern mindfulness and encourage wider adoption.

DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?

YL : The process deepened my understanding of inclusive design and the potential of modularity in creating meaningful, transformative user experiences.

DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?

YL : Meta Zen exemplifies the harmony between tradition and innovation, offering a tactile, meditative tool that adapts to contemporary needs while honoring ancient wisdom. It’s a step toward redefining mindfulness in modern life. If you are interested in Meta Zen or “Cyber” Meta Zen—our project's related artistic concepts, including exploring new development modes such as a public art version, please feel free to reach out to me for project collaboration opportunities!