This Student Is Designing for Human Connection

Championing empathy, inclusivity, and intergenerational connection, Zhuyun (Joy) Xu explores the potential of interiors to bring people together. With a background in statistics and data science and experience studying in China, Canada, and the United States, the Marymount University graduate interior design student approaches design with both analytical rigor and cultural sensitivity. Her work prioritizes interaction, accessibility, and emotional well-being, creating environments that support meaningful connections.

Her project Symphony Grove Music Garden, a collaboration with her peer Gabriella Sulzer, exemplifies this approach. Shaped like an infinity loop, this outdoor music park fosters intergenerational engagement, connecting youth and older adults through structured and unstructured musical activities—from chair exercises and live concerts to spontaneous jam sessions. Native greenery, tactile sensory walls, and wheelchair-accessible paths ensure that the space welcomes visitors of all abilities, while interactive instruments and a music visualizer allow everyone to participate fully. The design celebrates shared experience, mutual respect, and playful learning, redefining how communities inhabit and interact with public spaces.

“Joy’s work to elevate 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,” says her nominator, Salvatore Pirrone, associate professor of interior architecture and design at Marymount University. “Her work is thoughtful, empathic, and visually complex, whether she is looking at the overall layout or a handrail detail.”

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