Student Designs for Human Connection

By Megan Collins 08/07/2026 3 min read 3 views

Interior design student Zhuyun (Joy) Xu is reimagining public spaces to prioritize human interaction and emotional well-being. As a 2026 METROPOLIS Future100 honoree, Xu brings a unique perspective to the field, combining her background in statistics and data science with a focus on accessibility and intergenerational connection. Her projects aim to create environments where people of all ages and abilities can engage with one another naturally.

Symphony Grove Music Garden is Xu’s most notable project, developed in collaboration with peer Gabriella Sulzer. The design takes the form of an infinity loop, an architectural choice intended to support community engagement between youth and older adults. The park features a floor-embedded piano and a music visualizer that translates sound into light, creating a multisensory environment for visitors.

The space is designed to support structured and unstructured musical activities, ranging from chair exercises and live concerts to spontaneous jam sessions. Xu and Sulzer incorporated native greenery, tactile sensory walls, and wheelchair-accessible paths to ensure the site is welcoming to visitors of all physical abilities. The design emphasizes shared experience, mutual respect, and playful learning, attempting to redefine how communities inhabit and interact with public areas.

Salvatore Pirrone, associate professor of interior architecture and design at Marymount University, noted that Xu’s approach is both empathic and visually complex. “Joy’s work to raise human experiences for all populations places her at the center of the field while looking to the past, present, and future of what is possible,” he said.

For the people who use these spaces, the shift toward functional empathy changes the daily experience of public life. When a music garden removes physical barriers and creates a safe, shared environment for spontaneous interaction, it transforms a public park from a place of passive observation into a site of active participation. This shift is particularly significant for aging populations and individuals with mobility challenges, who often find themselves excluded from social hubs designed for younger, able-bodied users.

Xu’s work often bridges the gap between technical planning and emotional design. By applying her background in data science to interior architecture, she approaches user needs with a rigorous, almost mathematical attention to detail. This method allows her to identify specific points of friction in a space—such as a narrow walking path or a confusing layout—and address them to improve flow and interaction.

The result is a body of work that prioritizes the human element without sacrificing the practical needs of the community. Xu’s projects suggest that good design is not just about aesthetics or utility, but about facilitating the moments where people connect. By focusing on these small, human-scale details, Xu is building a case for a more inclusive future in architecture and design.

Such inclusive design strategies are essential when handling the complexities of modern urban environments. [1]The METROPOLISLikes 2026 Awards recognize these efforts, as seen in their recent winners announcement [1] which highlights innovative projects pushing boundaries. Xu’s specific focus on data-driven empathy offers a new pathway for designers to address these challenges.