Kio (Qihao) Zhu has been working as a post-MFA scholar since the summer of 2022. Co-sponsored by the Ohio State University Department of Design and ACCAD, Kio developed interactive digital media projects, collaborated with Faculty and taught courses for both organizations. Kio's research explores the potential of emerging technologies in arts and design and their underlying social political implications. 

Kio's research projects were showcased on campus for exhibitions and tours. These included: Hundred Stories, Hai and Sonic Systems via Hybrid Human + AI Exploration.  

The Sonic Systems project involved creating 3D printed instruments inspired by local musicians with the help of multiple AIs. The small scale prototypes generate sounds designed by AI when hand-held, along with unique digital imagery representing the sounds via the monitor (pictured below). The project is an exploration of the creative limits of current AI tools and an investigation into the implication of AI's impact on the design process. This was a grant funded collaboration between (L-R):  Kio Zhu, Post MFA Scholar Design | ACCAD, Will Nickley, Assistant Professor, Design and Grace Gerber, Undergrad Design student.

 The AI exploration project was funded by the Artificial Intelligence in the Arts, Humanities, and Engineering: Interdisciplinary Collaborations grant.

Also over the course of 2 years, Kio collaborated with interdisciplinary artists and researchers to create live visuals for performers. With support from the College of the Arts and Sciences, Design and ACCAD, his work has been presented at the Cumulus Beijing conference, the HHAI conference in Sweden and exhibited on and off campus internationally.

Design and ACCAD courses taught by Kio included a Collab studio - Speculative and Creative Coding (Design), Collab Studio - Physical Computing (Design), Integrated Tech Lab - Creative Coding and Real-time (ACCAD), Emerging Trends in Data Visualization (ACCAD).

Kio will begin working this autumn as a mid-ranked lecturer at SFK International Arts Education a leading private educational service provider in China, and as a freelance VJ artist. We wish him all the best.