Tianyi Xiao
Wu Guanzhong inspired / monochrome ink / line painting
I build immersive tools for spatial intelligence and creative expression, treating sketching like a brushstroke for memory, design, and collaboration.
A studio note in black, white, and measured accents
My research sits at the intersection of HCI, geography, and visual thinking. I use 3D sketch mapping, VR/AR, and generative AI to turn spatial ideas into expressive, testable, and communicable artifacts.
Sketching is my way of painting with space: every layer is a memory, every stroke a hypothesis.
Selected works, drawn as a sequence of frames
Recent pieces from the sketch map universe, where prototypes and papers stay close to the gesture that made them.
Sketch2Terrain
Generative AR sketching for terrain mapping, efficiency, and expressive spatial design.
VResin
A layer-by-layer VR sketching interface for externalizing spatial memory with less distortion.
CoMap
A collaborative 3D sketch mapping game for shared spatial communication in search and rescue.
Three themes, one creative language
My work sits at the border of sketching, spatial reasoning, and interface design. I use line-based representations to make spatial ideas feel testable and shareable.
Spatial Intelligence
Sketch, infer, and externalize memory. I explore how freehand drawing and generative models can help people preserve, transform, and recall spatial knowledge.
Creative Interfaces
XR tools that feel like a studio. I design VR and AR systems that let researchers and non-experts build spatial artifacts with more freedom, less strain, and richer expression.
Spatial Cognition
Study how environments shape perception. I evaluate how people perceive, remember, and communicate 3D space by combining experiments, behavioral data, and EEG-informed analysis.
Let's talk about research, drawing, or collaborative tools.
If you'd like to talk about the work, collaborate, or compare notes on sketching and spatial interfaces, send a message and I'll be glad to continue the conversation.