: )  Welcome
I’m Siyi Wu, a cultural project strategist and visual designer based in New York & Suzhou. I committed to using storytelling to activate heritage, education, and community engagement.


Current Focus
Cultural Sustainability   
Community Engagement  
Communication
Visual Identity 
Editorial Design
Projects Archive
Cultural Projects
Graphic Design

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EN
Su Embroidery, Reimagined
a project to make a 2,000-year-old craft more accessible, engaging, and relevant in modern context.
Project Description
Su Embroidery is reimagined as a living urban heritage through interactive metro installations, social media storytelling, and cultural spaces. Rather than nostalgia, it invites the public to experience tradition as evolving, emotionally resonant, and socially embedded. By bridging past and present through participatory design and narrative engagement, the project keeps heritage culturally alive and continuously reimagined.

Read our full research paper on this project

Time Period
May. 2024 – Apr. 2025

Location
Suzhou / New York

SDG Alignment
SDG 11 / SDG 17
01.CONTEXT Before the conceptWhat is Su Embroidery
  • Originated from Suzhou, China.
  • > 2,500 years.
  • Precision - can split 1/128 of a silk thread.
  • Double-Sided Embroidery.

Opportunity Statement
  • Policy Alignment
    • Promotes heritage engagement in public space.
  • Tourism in Suzhou
    • 200M tourists in 2024.
Current Industry Situation
  • Artisan: Fewer than 5% are under the age of 30.
  • Public: 65% of young respondents reported being unfamiliar with Su Embroidery .

Strategic Vison
  • From passive preservation → active participation
  • From nostalgia → emotional relevance
  • From decorative motif → cultural narrative
Gap in Current Initiatives
While current promotional formats have diversified from exhibitions to livestreams and brand collaborations, they still remain disconnected from everyday experience.

SDG Alignment
  • SDG 11.4: Protect the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
  • SDG 17.H: Encourage effective partnerships.
02.Pilot ProgramWhy Suzhou Metro
  • High-Traffic Mandatory Reach.
  • Destination-Oriented Target Strategy.
  • Sustainability Alignment.

Activation Site  &Audience Profile
Lindun Road Station
  • Geographically
    • Around cultural and tourism landmarks.
  • Functionally
    • 522,000 passengers/month.
    • Cultural tourists, Suzhou Residences.
Target Audiences
  • Cultural tourists, Suzhou Residences.

# We Are On the Same Way
A metro-based installation where Su Embroidery meets daily life.

    1. Place
      Visitors use life-sized magnetic pieces—adapted from Su Embroidery figures—to create shared scenes on a modern metro backdrop.
    2. Capture
      Each day’s co-created scene is photographed and archived, preserving moments of past–present interaction.
    3. Share & Receive
      Par      ticipants are encouraged to post their experience on social media and receive embroidered sticker as a reward.
    4. Scalability & Sustainability
      Rotating Artisan Spotlights
    • Monthly Featured Artisan
      • Example: Zou Yingzi (Buddhist motifs) ➔ Liang Xuefang (lotus themes)
    • Interactive Updates
      • Magnetic board refreshed with signature motifs.
    • QR Code Integration 
      • Direct access to bios, studios, and purchases.
    • Economic & Cultural Wins
      • Market exposure for artisans.
      • Preservation of stylistic diversity.
    • Live Events 
      • Monthly stitching demos/Q&A sessions.

    Social Media for Public Engagement                                          Red Note
    • 500k users post heritage content
      • Visual-first, lifestyle storytelling, Gen Z appeal.
    Weibo
    • 60% users explore new trends daily
      • Opinion shaping, public conversation.
    Chinese TikTok
    • 19 Billion Review on Cultural Campaign
      • High-impact interaction & hot challenges videos.
    03.Customer Experience roadmap