Twenty-one-year-old Liu Jianan grew up lending a hand at her sister's autism rehabilitation center in Xiamen, Fujian province.

An avid illustrator, she hoped to support children on the spectrum — experimenting with picture books, puzzles and interactive games. It wasn't until her junior year at the China Academy of Art, while studying art and technology, that she discovered the potential of artificial and virtual reality. That discovery sparked an idea: What if immersive technology could make therapy more engaging for autistic children?

"The biggest challenge for people with autism is integrating into society," Liu explains. "Fine motor skills are key, especially for hands-on work. But traditional exercises like origami can feel dull to kids. I wanted to make it fun."

Together with two schoolmates, Liu created Foldiverse — a VR-guided origami program where children fold animals like birds or cats following voice instructions. Once complete, the folded creatures come to life on screen — transforming a quiet exercise into a moment of magic.

As a student representative, Liu shared her story at the opening ceremony of Metamorphoses: 2025 CAA Graduation Season.