Interview
Lois He
hyz Studio LLC, United States
Lois He is the Creative Director at HYZ Studio, exploring storytelling through AI, interactivity, and mixed realities. Her award-winning project, Between Empty, explores how selfhood is shaped through reflection and connection.
1 Congratulations on your achievements in the Vega Digital Awards! Could you start by introducing yourself or your agency? Can you also share a bit about your journey into your current industry?
I’m Lois He, Creative Director at HYZ Studio — a New York–based collective exploring how storytelling can evolve in an era of AI, interactivity, and mixed realities. My journey began in film — framing light and emotion through a lens — and has since expanded into immersive media, where light itself becomes a narrative language. Our studio creates experiences that merge architecture, projection, and real-time systems to explore how perception shapes identity and emotion. “Between Empty,” the awarded project, continues my exploration of how selfhood can be constructed and distorted through external and interpersonal influences — both literal and psychological.
2 What inspired you to submit your work for this competition, and what does winning mean to you personally and professionally?
I submitted this work because it represents a milestone where philosophy, design, and technology finally intersected in harmony. It’s not only a game prototype — it’s a metaphorical system that mirrors how we depend on external validation to feel real. Winning this award affirms that introspective, emotionally complex storytelling still resonates deeply within digital art. Personally, it reminds me to stay fearless in blending poetic intent with technical experimentation.
3 Can you share the story behind your success? What inspired its creation, and what do you feel it represents in today’s industry?
The idea for Between Empty was born during a time when I felt disconnected — surrounded by images and data, yet unsure which reflections were truly mine. I began to imagine a world where beings made of mirrors could only feel alive when seen by others. From that concept came a gameplay system where “visibility equals survival.” It represents the modern tension between self-perception and social reflection — a story about dependency, awareness, and liberation.
4 What do you believe set your project apart in such a competitive field? Were there specific elements or strategies that made it shine?
Our approach combined cinematic emotion with real-time interactivity. Rather than gamifying objectives, Between Empty treats mechanics as metaphors — each player action mirrors a psychological process. The design balances minimal interface and narrative symbolism. This synthesis of emotional storytelling and systemic design likely set it apart.
5 Every project has its challenges. Can you share a significant obstacle you faced during this process and how you overcame it?
The biggest challenge was achieving the mirror-reflection mechanic in a way that felt emotional rather than mechanical. The light and darkness needed to interact softly — not as rigid reflections, but as living, breathing elements. We experimented extensively with different rendering priorities and shader conditions to make the illumination feel organic and full of emotion.
6 Winning an award of this caliber often brings recognition. What do you hope this achievement will mean for your career, your team, or your agency in the long run? Have you already noticed any changes or opportunities arising from this recognition?
It validates our belief that digital media can be both poetic and systemic. It opens new doors for the next project and also collaboration with other institutions interested in immersive storytelling. For HYZ Studio, it fuels our confidence to push experimental work toward large-scale, multi-sensory storytelling.
7 What has the reaction been from clients, audiences, or stakeholders about your winning entry? Any feedback or memorable moments that stand out?
People often describe the project as hauntingly personal. The most touching feedback came from players who related the darkness mechanic to their own emotional struggles with validation and burnout. It reminded me how empathy can exist through mechanics, not just dialogue.
8 For those aspiring to achieve similar success, what advice would you offer to help them not only thrive in their industries but also craft compelling, award-worthy entries? Are there specific practices, mindsets, or strategies you believe are key?
Don’t chase polish—chase honesty. Technology changes fast, but sincerity in how you translate emotion into interaction will always stand out. Start small. I’m still learning to follow this myself—it’s something I remind myself of constantly while creating.
9 The digital industry is constantly evolving. How do you view these changes, and where do you hope to position yourself in the future?
We’re living through a shift where the boundaries between creator, audience, and machine are dissolving. The digital industry is no longer just about tools — it’s about perception design. I see my role as building bridges between storytelling and consciousness — helping people feel through technology rather than be numbed by it.
10 Entering awards can be daunting for many, especially those just starting out. What would you say to individuals who have limited experience, or are hesitant to showcase their work in competitions? How can they build confidence and see the value in participating?
If you wait until you feel “ready,” you’ll never submit. Growth happens through exposure and dialogue. Awards are not validation — they’re invitations to conversation.
11 Innovation thrives on connection. What message would you like to share with fellow digital thinkers, marketers, and industry professionals?
Let’s keep redefining innovation as something that deepens our capacity for empathy rather than just accelerating performance. What we need are not flawless effects, but experiences that awaken emotional intelligence — works that invite audiences to reflect on their realities instead of escaping them.
12 Winning is a team effort in many cases. Is there someone or a group of people you’d like to dedicate this achievement to, and why?
This achievement belongs to our small but fearless team — Eric Zhang, Jimmy Qin, John Luo, Yi Wang, KICO, Jiayi Lee, and many others whose contributions we deeply appreciate. Their belief in the poetic potential of interactivity keeps our vision alive.
13 If you could describe your award-winning entry in one sentence, what would it be and why?
The experience takes place in a fragile world of mirrors, where existence flickers between light and darkness — sustained only by the reflections of others.
14 Finally, what’s next for you? Any exciting projects or upcoming goals that you’d like to share with us and the audience?
Our studio is currently developing along two parallel paths. On one side, we collaborate with museums and brands to create immersive installations and experiential marketing projects. On the other, we continue building our own original works. We’re developing In the Skin Of…, a VR installation exploring sensory detachment and empathy, and Where the Island Was, a live performance where memories shift and distort through audience movement. Both projects extend our ongoing exploration of perception, power, and the fragility of human connection.
