Empowering Minds & Memories: A Talk with Qihang Zhang, Co-Founder of Memory Land & MindFuel

Hi, I’m Qihang Zhang, a product designer and entrepreneur based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I hold a Master of Education in Learning Design, Innovation, and Technology from Harvard and a Bachelor’s in Communications and History from UCLA, with plans to complete my MBA at Stanford. My journey has taken me from spearheading innovative analytics solutions at Chartmetric, empowering minority artists in the music industry, to contributing to impactful campaigns at Tesla and National Geographic.

I’m also the co-founder of Memory Land and MindFuel, where I focus on creating digital experiences that promote emotional healing and resilience through mindfulness and trauma-informed design. My work combines a passion for innovation with a deep commitment to meaningful, human-centred impact.

My path to becoming a designer was shaped by a blend of education, curiosity, and personal discovery. It began with studying Communications at UCLA, where I initially aimed for a career in the entertainment industry. This experience opened my eyes to the power of storytelling, which became a crucial element in my design journey. I soon realised that design was an indispensable form of storytelling, capable of conveying messages and evoking emotions in unique ways.

This revelation came through hands-on experimentation, from redesigning album covers to building music data apps from scratch. I found immense joy in this design process, particularly in how it allowed me to share stories and inspire others. Recognising where my passions and skills intersected, I made a deliberate decision to pivot my career towards product design, with a focus on UI and UX. To support this transition, I took the initiative to teach myself Figma, demonstrating my commitment to the field.

Ultimately, my journey wasn't a straight path but an evolution, driven by my growing understanding of how design can create meaningful experiences and my genuine enthusiasm for the design process. This realisation led me to embrace a career where I can continuously explore new ways to communicate and inspire through visual and interactive mediums.

Memory Land is a pioneering venture I co-founded that reimagines how we cope with grief and remember our loved ones. At its core, Memory Land is an interactive digital space designed to transform the process of memorialisation into a more personal and healing experience. By leveraging advanced technology, we create customisable digital memorials that allow individuals to commemorate their loved ones in unique and meaningful ways.

These digital spaces are tailored to reflect the life and essence of the departed, incorporating elements such as virtual reality tours of favourite places, digital scrapbooks, and immersive memory rooms. Our mission is to offer a comforting, interactive platform where memories are preserved, and the bonds of love continue to thrive, even beyond physical presence. Memory Land is not just about remembering; it's about continuing connections, celebrating lives, and healing.


As a designer and co-founder of Memory Land, my role is multifaceted, encompassing both creative and leadership responsibilities. I lead the design strategy, ensuring that our digital memorial platforms are not only aesthetically pleasing but also emotionally resonant and user-friendly. My approach combines a deep understanding of user experience with innovative digital design techniques to create spaces that are both meaningful and accessible to users around the world.

I work closely with other designers and content creators to craft interactive features that personalise the memorial experience, such as virtual landscapes and multimedia timelines that tell the stories of loved ones in vivid detail. Beyond design, I also guide the project's vision and strategic direction, striving to forge new paths in how we experience remembrance and healing in the digital age.

To me, design is the art of connecting dots in unexpected ways. It's about seeing patterns where others see chaos and finding novel solutions to age-old problems. Design isn't just about making something new; it's about making something meaningful. It's the ability to take existing ideas, concepts, or materials and combine them in ways that spark innovation or evoke emotion. In the realm of product design, design means crafting experiences that not only look beautiful but also solve real problems for users.

It's about pushing boundaries while staying grounded in purpose. Design is both a skill and a mindset – it requires technical knowledge and expertise, but also the courage to experiment, fail, and try again. Ultimately, design is about transformation: transforming blank canvases into works of art, complex data into intuitive interfaces, and everyday experiences into moments of delight and discovery.

My favourite kind of design is user-centred design, primarily because it places the user’s needs and experiences at the forefront of the creative process. This approach not only ensures that the final product is accessible and intuitive but also enhances the overall user experience by making it more engaging and satisfying.

I appreciate how user-centred design involves deep research into the user’s environment, behaviours, and challenges, leading to solutions that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also genuinely useful and relevant to the user's life. This focus on meaningful interaction between the design and its users drives innovation in a way that respects and enhances human interaction, which is both challenging and rewarding.

To me, a design idea or design transcends mere novelty or aesthetics; it embodies innovation, relevance, and emotional resonance. A truly effective design not only solves a problem in a unique way but also connects with users on an emotional level, enhancing their experience and engagement. It should push boundaries, challenging conventional norms and encouraging us to rethink our interactions with the world around us.

Moreover, effective design is about inclusivity, ensuring that solutions are accessible to a diverse audience, reflecting a broad spectrum of human experiences and needs. Ultimately, the creativity in a design is evident in its ability to inspire, provoke thought, and bring about meaningful change.

The idea for our award-winning design at Memory Land stemmed from a deeply personal experience—dealing with the loss of a loved one. This universal experience often comes with profound grief and a sense of disconnection. Realising the traditional methods of memorialisation didn't resonate with everyone in the modern digital age, I saw an opportunity to innovate.

The concept was to create a more interactive and personal way for people to remember their loved ones. We wanted to combine elements of virtual reality, digital storytelling, and user-centred design to craft digital memorials that are not only a tribute but also a living memory space. These spaces allow users to "visit" virtual recreations of their loved ones’ favourite places, interact with personalised memory timelines, and experience their stories in immersive ways.

Our design process started with extensive research into the emotional needs of those grieving and the technical possibilities currently underutilised in the memorial industry. By integrating technology with a compassionate approach to design, we aimed to create a platform that could offer solace and a new way to cherish memories, ultimately enhancing the emotional well-being of users and providing a meaningful, enduring connection to those they have lost.

This fusion of technology and emotional insight was the foundation of our winning entry in the London Design Awards, capturing both the innovative spirit and the deep human connection that design can facilitate.

The main source of inspiration for our design at Memory Land was the concept of "memory palaces," an ancient mnemonic technique used to recall information through mental visualisation of a familiar space or journey. This method, which dates back to ancient Greek and Roman times, involves associating information with specific locations within an imagined environment, making it easier to retrieve.

I was fascinated by how this method leverages our spatial memory in conjunction with emotional and narrative elements. It sparked the idea to apply this concept to a modern digital context, allowing people to create virtual environments filled with personal memories and significant moments tied to their loved ones.

By transforming abstract memories into interactive, visual experiences, we could offer a more profound and engaging way for people to connect with their past and the stories of those they cherish.

Drawing on this inspiration, we designed digital memorials that function like personalised memory palaces, where users can navigate through various aspects of their loved ones’ lives—each element meticulously crafted to evoke the sensory and emotional experiences associated with those memories. This approach not only honours the individuality of the departed but also enriches the user's experience of remembrance, making it a deeply personal and therapeutic journey.

My cultural heritage has been a vital influence on my creative process. Born in China, I was surrounded by an environment rich in history, culture, and architecture, which deeply shaped my design sensibilities. My fascination with design began with my first exposure to the intricate beauty of Gothic architecture and the serene balance of Chinese gardens from the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

These experiences instilled in me an appreciation for the humanity embedded in architectural forms, influencing how I integrate cultural and historical elements into my work. This blend of Eastern and Western influences has not only enriched my aesthetic perspective but also continually informs my approach to creating designs that are thoughtful, inclusive, and resonate on a human level.

Winning the 2024 London Design Awards is a tremendous honour for both myself and our team at Memory Land. This recognition is not only a validation of our dedication to innovative design but also a testament to the collaborative spirit that drives our company. It underscores our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in creating digital memorial spaces that offer emotional healing and personalised remembrance.

For us, this award signifies that our efforts to integrate creativity with utility are resonating within the broader creative community. It motivates us to continue our work, striving for even greater achievements and leading the way in transforming how we honour and remember loved ones.

The project we entered into the 2024 London Design Awards focuses on innovating the way we remember and honour our loved ones through digital spaces. Recognising the increasing need for personalised and meaningful memorial experiences, we aimed to make these important processes more accessible and emotionally resonant for a broader range of users. As a designer, I tackled significant challenges in interactive design and digital storytelling.

I consistently prioritised the end-users, striving to ensure that the digital memorials we crafted were not only accessible but also deeply meaningful and supportive in helping individuals process their grief. This project represents a synthesis of technical skill and human-centred design, tailored specifically to enhance and transform the experience of remembrance.

In developing the digital memorials at Memory Land, we navigated several critical challenges. Balancing advanced technology with sensitivity was paramount, requiring collaboration with grief counsellors to tailor user interfaces that were comforting and intuitive. To achieve personalisation at scale, we introduced modular design elements that allowed for extensive customisation without overwhelming the user.

Protecting sensitive personal data was crucial, addressed by implementing robust security protocols and transparent user agreements. Ensuring the design supported users emotionally through their grief involved iterative testing and refinement based on user feedback to enhance the emotional resonance of the experience.

Additionally, integrating diverse technologies such as VR, AI, and cloud storage smoothly was a technical challenge, overcome by partnering with experts and conducting thorough beta tests to ensure functionality across platforms. Through these efforts, we crafted a product that was not only technically adept but also deeply supportive of our users' emotional needs.

Winning the Gold Award at the London Design Awards marked the first major recognition of my career as a designer and stands as a milestone that validates my growth in the design field. This award has not only bolstered my resolve to enhance my design thinking and technical skills but also deepened my commitment to addressing humanity's challenges through my work at Memory Land.

It inspires me to continuously seek innovative solutions and strive to embody the principles of humanity-centered design in our digital memorials, ensuring that every creation helps honour and remember loved ones in deeply personal and meaningful ways.

My top three favourite things about the design industry are its constant innovation, significant impact on user experience, and the diversity of thought it fosters. The field is always advancing, pushing the boundaries of what's possible and encouraging creativity at every turn, which keeps the work dynamic and exciting. Design profoundly affects how people interact with the world, enhancing everyday life through intuitive and thoughtful solutions, making it immensely rewarding to see the positive changes it brings to users.

Additionally, the industry thrives on collaboration among people from varied backgrounds and disciplines, enriching the creative process and leading to more comprehensive and effective solutions. This diversity is not only a catalyst for creativity but also essential for addressing complex challenges in innovative ways.

What sets our design apart in the digital memorial space is our holistic approach to combining emotional intelligence with cutting-edge technology. We prioritise user empathy and sensitivity, ensuring that each element of the memorial experience is tailored to provide comfort and meaningful engagement.

Unlike traditional digital memorials, our platforms incorporate interactive elements like virtual reality environments and multimedia timelines, allowing users to engage with memories in a more dynamic and personal way.

Additionally, our design is distinguished by its deep customisation capabilities, enabling users to create truly individualised memorial experiences that reflect the unique lives of their loved ones. This user-centred approach, coupled with robust privacy protections and an intuitive design interface, ensures that our digital memorials provide not just a space for remembrance but a profound experience of connection and healing.

I see that generative AI will lower the entry barriers of design and enable more students to pick up design skills more easily. However, this does not mean the world will need fewer designers. Design thinking as a way of problem-solving and design as a field will remain robust as they are key to finding solutions to challenges faced by societies, organisations, and individuals.

To aspiring London Design Awards submitters and students entering the design industry: take the plunge before self-doubt holds you back. Many of us, myself included, have grappled with imposter syndrome, but remember that design is inherently subjective. There's rarely a direct comparison in real-world scenarios, so focus on your unique perspective.

Every designer has their own strengths and areas for growth – your individual experiences make your work valuable. When entering the London Design Awards, showcase your best work with courage and confidence. Believe in your creativity, but remain mindful throughout the process. Seek feedback from mentors or peers to refine your submissions.

Regardless of the outcome, view this as a learning opportunity and a chance to join a community of design professionals. Remember, by participating, you're already taking a significant step in your design career. The London Design Awards are not just about winning but about challenging yourself and gaining exposure. So, give it your best shot – your unique vision deserves to be seen.

For those looking to enhance their skills in the design industry, I believe the most valuable resource is right at our fingertips: the apps we use daily. By closely observing how these apps create seamless, user-centred interfaces and interactions, we can learn to design intuitive experiences that users barely notice. However, this shouldn't be your only resource.

Supplement this observational learning with online courses on platforms like Coursera or Skillshare, follow design blogs and podcasts, and familiarise yourself with industry-standard tools like Figma or Sketch. Engage with the design community on platforms like Dribbble or Behance, participate in design challenges, and apply your skills to personal or volunteer projects.

Read classic design books, attend conferences when possible, and always keep an eye on industry trends and competitors. Remember, the key to improvement in the design field is not just consuming information, but actively applying what you learn and cultivating a mindset of continuous growth and adaptability.

You can find an image of me captured in a moment of awe on Adele’s Instagram.

Mariah Carey has been my greatest inspiration throughout my life. As a child, I dreamed of emulating her creative prowess in vocals and songwriting to inspire and uplift others. As much as I enjoy improvising R&B harmonies like she does, I have discovered that design is my medium — my own unique voice to make a positive impact in the world.

Be kind and compassionate to others, and most importantly, to ourselves.