Jonah Ling

I always wanted to be an architect, and I believe this spatial way of reimagining the world forms the foundation of my creativity and innovation.

At architecture school, I became fascinated by modernism and how it led to flat, characterless and often lifeless buildings. I began to see the same problem in digital design, where minimalist interfaces strip away personality and warmth. I started to ask: could architecture and software combine to create a more human digital environment? What if the tactile qualities we love in physical spaces—handcrafted ornamentation, green parks, textured streets—could inspire virtual worlds that feel alive?

That idea shaped my journey. I joined a master’s programme at UCL exploring architecture through film and video games, and since graduating, I’ve collaborated with storytellers, animators, filmmakers, theatre directors, programmers and game developers. Through these experiences, I’ve seen how technology can reflect human diversity and creativity.

Innovation, to me, is about rethinking how we interface with the world—balancing a cup of coffee, doodling in a notebook, or feeling textures under our fingertips—and letting those gestures inspire digital design. As computers evolve to think and respond more like us, I want to ensure they remain grounded in humanity. Our virtual spaces should not feel alien, but deeply familiar—extensions of the messy, beautiful, physical world we already inhabit.

Jonah is an emerging spatial computing developer with a human-centred approach to designing tactile digital experiences. A recent Watershed MyWorld Fellow with Aardman Animations, he has developed mixed reality tools that allow stop-motion creators to visualise and plan sequences using physical interfaces. His work with Distortion Studios and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama continues to merge physical and digital worlds, redefining immersive performance through architectural sensitivity and creative technology.

Vanessa Bellaar Spruijt

Watershed Arts Trust Ltd

 

View all innovators