Soulnest Taupānga Pūkoro by Yixuan Song and Jiahui Yu

Soulnest Taupānga Pūkoro by Yixuan Song and Jiahui Yu is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Rino in Hoahoa Hangarau Pūkoro, Tono me te Pūmanawa Competition Category.

RinoPūkoro· 2026

Soulnest Taupānga Pūkoro

by Yixuan Song and Jiahui Yu

Client: SoulNest

A' Design Award Rino Winner in Pūkoro Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Soulnest Taupānga Pūkoro

He taupānga pūkoro a Soulnest i hangaia hei tautoko i te oranga hinengaro. Ka whakaratohia e te taupānga he hoa atamai hangahanga e ārahi ana i ngā kaiwhakamahi mā ngā hipanga e whā: te kōwhiri hoa, te aromatawai, te haumanu me te whakamāmā i te wā pāpori. Mā te tātari kanohi me te rongo i te tere manawa e āhei ai te hoa ki te urutau i tōna reo me ana ārahitanga i te wā tonu. Ka whakamahia ngā tikanga haumanu whanonga hinengaro hei āwhina i ngā kaiwhakamahi ki te whakahaere i te taumahatanga kare-ā-roto. Ka mahia katoatia ngā tukatuka i runga i te pūrere, nō reira ka mahi te taupānga i te wā tuimotu, ā, ka noho tūmataiti ngā raraunga whaiaro.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Rino

Ko Soulnest Taupānga Pūkoro te toa o te A' Design Award Rino, he whakaaetanga whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa pai e whakatutuki ana i ngā hiahia ngaio me te ahumahi e tūmanakohia ana mai i ngā mahi kua hoahoatia pai. Ko ngā toa Rino e whakaatu ana i te pukenga nui, te tohungatanga teitei, te māramatanga mātanga me te kaha auaha o ō rātou kaihanga. E tūmanakohia ana ko Soulnest Taupānga Pūkoro he mahi whakanuia, whakamīharotia, aroha nui, he whaihua, he auaha hoki. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Rino e whakakotahi ana i ngā tikanga pai rawa o te ahumahi, ā, he āhuatanga hangarau pūkenga tōna e hono ana ki te mōhio me te pūmanawa. E whakahonoretia ana a Soulnest Taupānga Pūkoro mō tōna tōtika, ā, i hoahoatia hei whakapai ake i te kounga o te oranga me te āwhina i te ao kia pai ake.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Soulnest pioneers a paradigm shift in mental health by replacing traditional high-barrier appointments with an immediate, 4-step stabilization loop. It democratizes emotional care through de-stigmatized Ai avatars, delivering personalized support in under 10 seconds. Engineered for digital equity, it features on-device Ai inference for full offline functionality on low-end devices. Adhering to Wcag standards and low-arousal aesthetics, Soulnest fosters global resilience with proven 72% efficacy.
Dimensions & Packaging: Ai architecture: Green Llm framework optimized via Tensorflow lite for local edge-computing. Performance: On-device inference latency less than 120ms; 40% reduction in peak Cpu load via adaptive computation dimming. Bio-data: Heart rate sampling at 30fps; 100% on-device physiological processing (zero-cloud privacy). Universal equity: Lightweight build less than 150mb for low-end device compatibility. Compliance: Full Wcag 2.1 level Aa and Iso-standard data encryption for global digital wellness.
Tags: Mental Wellness, Ai Companion, Social Impact, Emotional Intelligence, Inclusive Design, Biofeedback, Digital Health, Wearable Interaction, Cbt Therapy, Accessibility
Production Technology: Soulnest implements an empathic interaction system by merging Rppg bio-sensing with Facs-based facial tracking. This transforms passive interfaces into a responsive biofeedback loop, where Ai avatars dynamically adapt their tone and guidance based on real-time physiological stress markers. The design utilizes atomic design systems and flutter for cross-platform fluidity, ensuring a seamless experience that balances clinical rigor with a low-arousal visual language.
Design Challenge: The hardest part was achieving emotional authenticity while ensuring absolute privacy. Internal factors: We had to balance clinical rigor with a low-arousal Ux to prevent digital fatigue. External factors: Overcoming the limitations of on-device Ai inference was crucial to allow full functionality on low-end hardware without cloud dependency. Result: We successfully engineered a responsive bio-feedback loop that senses crisis through subtle physiological cues, navigating complex data-protection laws while delivering life-saving immediacy.
Research: We conducted a multi-modal mixed-methods study to bridge the 75% gap in immediate mental support. Methodology: Using evidence-based design and longitudinal tracking, we integrated Cbt frameworks with Ai interaction. Tools and participants: 1,200 diverse users were monitored via Rppg sensors and biometric wearables over 6 months. Results: Data showed a 72% increase in emotional regulation and a 58% reduction in crisis duration. Impact: The research proves that Ai-driven, bio-responsive tools can democratize mental healthcare, transforming high-barrier therapy into a scalable, stigma-free social infrastructure.
Inspiration: Inspired by the "silent crisis" where 75% of those in need lack mental support due to stigma and cost, Soulnest was born to bridge this gap. We observed that the "waiting period" is the deadliest barrier. Our goal was to create a "seamless emotional infrastructure" that is as natural as breathing. By integrating evidence-based therapy with Ai-driven empathy, Soulnest replaces medical coldness with human-centric warmth, ensuring support is a right, not a luxury, at the very moment of crisis.
Project Duration: The project started in Nov 2024 in San Jose and launched the beta version in Aug 2025.
Operation Flow: 1. Selection: Users choose a personalized Ai companion based on visual aesthetics and emotional affinity. 2. Diagnosis: The Ai assesses mental states by analyzing facial micro-expressions and conversational patterns. 3. Therapy: Users access anytime Ai consultations with avatar using Cbt techniques for immediate emotional support. 4. Crisis relief: Interactive scenarios and sensory healing are triggered to de-escalate emotional spikes. 5. Biometric tracking: Wearable sensors monitor physiological indicators, allowing the Ai to proactively intervene and track long-term wellness trends.
Team Members: Yixuan Song
Jiahui Yu
Xianxi Liao