Photo Courtesy: Yiqi Zhao
New York, USA - February 10, 2025 - The International Awards Associate (IAA) has announced Yiqi Zhao as a Gold Winner in the Mixed Reality category at the prestigious 2025 French Design Awards. The accolade celebrates her outstanding contribution to the global design community, solidifying her position as one of the leaders in AI-driven spatial computing and immersive technology.
The French Design Awards, renowned for spotlighting the most groundbreaking designs worldwide, received over 2,500 entries this year. Submissions came from leading corporations, independent designers, and innovative agencies across diverse industries. Entrants hailed from the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, China, Italy, Australia, Germany, Spain, Qatar, France, and beyond. Amid this competitive field, Yiqi Zhao’s project, Holo Flower Brain, stood out for its pioneering approach to AI-integrated wearables and mental wellness solutions.
A Visionary Approach to AI and Mixed Reality
As a Design Leader in the space of wearables, Yiqi Zhao has consistently pushed the boundaries of spatial computing. Her work spans AI-powered mixed reality applications across the Meta Quest product line, cross-screen platforms, and wearable devices. With a research background at Harvard University and the MIT Media Lab, Zhao has long been at the forefront of immersive design.
The award-winning Holo Flower Brain project exemplifies her commitment to human-centered innovation. Designed as a real-time data visualization interface, the Holo Flower Brain transforms EEG brainwave data into an intuitive and artistic 3D display. The project seeks to bridge technology and human wellness by offering an immersive visual representation of brain activity.
“This recognition means a lot to me,” said Yiqi Zhao. “The research effort for design-centered AI integration of mixed reality wearables is slowly reaching the public after 10 years. Holo Flower Brain offers a poetic way to understand oneself by unrolling and visualizing daily brain events in a new dimension.”
Innovative Features of Holo Flower Brain
Photo Courtesy: French Design Awards
The Holo Flower Brain introduces a unique blend of technology, neuroscience, and design through:
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Mind control visualization: Capturing your brain (EEG signals) and translating them into an interactive digital interface.
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Wearable technology integration: Merging AI with hologram for seamless human-device interaction.
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Community-driven data solutions: Facilitating secure, encrypted data sharing while prioritizing privacy and ethical use.
A core aspect of the project is its three-stage approach to data sharing of your brain activities, which balances security, efficiency, and community benefits:
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Encrypted sharing vessels to ensure user privacy over cloud.
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Lateral hierarchy management for structured and efficient data organization.
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Longitudinal hierarchy integration that respects user privacy while fostering collective advancements.
A Platform for Future Innovation
The French Design Awards is an international competition that honors and acknowledges the zenith of creative genius in shaping future technologies. Holo Flower Brain highlights the potential of mixed reality and introduces a new paradigm for mental wellness through technology.
"Yiqi showcases the pinnacle of design innovation and creativity in the 2025 French Design Awards," said Thomas Brandt, spokesperson for IAA. "This project represents a unique vision and the relentless pursuit of excellence that inspires the global design community. We are honored to spotlight her exceptional contributions and celebrate her achievements on this international platform."
More details about Holo Flower Brain can be found on the winner website.
Photo Courtesy: Yiqi Zhao
About the Winner: Yiqi Zhao
Yiqi Zhao is a leading expert in AI-driven spatial computing. She specializes in mixed reality and wearable AI. With a research background at Harvard University and the MIT Media Lab, her expertise spans brain-computer interfaces (EEG), AI integration, and human-centered design. Previously, she led Unity’s platform initiatives, including the visionOS partnership for Apple Vision Pro, and She also made her mark in the gaming sector by shipping Destiny 2.
Beyond her design contributions, Yiqi is a thought leader, speaking at institutions like Harvard, MIT, Columbia, as well as global events like GDC, AWE, and GenAI Summit. She has also served as a jury member for prestigious competitions, including the Indigo Design Award, XR Design Challenge, XR Hack and MIT Reality Hack. Passionate about the intersection of XR and AI, Yiqi is dedicated to pioneering human-first innovations that bridge technology and everyday life.
Media Contact
Company Name: International Awards Associate
Contact Person: Tyler K.
Email: Send Email
Phone: +16467818768
Country: United States
Website: https://iaaawards.org
