However, Helenar Liu, a content creator on Bilibili, China's YouTube equivalent that mainly targets Gen Zs, used her creativity to bring this fictional item to life. At the time of writing, the video recording her creative process from start to finish had been viewed over 2 million times, with countless fans of The King's Avatar expressing their praise in the comments.

Liu's outstanding ability to transform two-dimensional designs into tangible objects has captivated audiences.

In the making

Liu, a passionate DIY enthusiast with 209,000 followers on Bilibili describes herself as an "okay maker."

The term "maker" refers to individuals who are innovative, driven by interests and hobbies, and strive to turn their creativity into reality.

But why become a maker? Liu started out by crafting small pieces of furniture at home, and later found herself captivated by the magic of robotics competitions during her college years. "Some things may be hard to learn, but when it comes to machines, I believe I can do it," she explained.

Discovering this strong connection between herself and robotics, the maker in the making began to explore and learn.

"For me, being a maker means using skills in programming, circuitry and structural design. However, it's not enough to rely on knowledge alone to create a final product; you also need to master craftsmanship, such as woodworking and welding, to bring creativity to life," said Liu.

Take the Myriad Manifestation Umbrella, for example. Many people had previously attempted to take the item from 2D to 3D, but it was difficult to match Liu's ingenious functional reproduction. Instead of using complex mechanical structures, Liu cleverly combined several beginner-friendly components to achieve her goal. This requires a talent for simplifying complexity and a determination to accept repeated failures while moving forward.

To excel as a maker, Liu emphasizes the need for creativity, technical skills and practical experience. She believes that having technology and practice can make someone a technical expert, combining creativity and technology are the qualities of a scientist, while adding creativity to practice can define a craftsman. Having all three, however, makes one a true maker.

"I don't label others, and I won't label myself. But if I must label myself, I hope to be a maker for life," she said.

Pushing the limits

For makers, a willingness to share is a popular trait. Liu records the process of making her handmade products in videos and shares these online. She has already posted 16 handmade items on Bilibili.

"People may focus more on videos with higher view counts, but each piece takes a lot of time and effort. For instance, to create the Golden Cudgel, a mythical staff wielded by the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, in the Chinese classic novel Journey to the West, I sought the guidance of a master to learn the art of filigree inlay (a long-established traditional Beijing craft previously used in the production of ancient Chinese imperial jewelry and also known as fine gold art). My goal is to spread China's extraordinary traditional culture," Liu said.

Liu regularly visits professors in the city of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, to exchange ideas and learn about cutting-edge technologies. "While universities are vast pools of technology, much knowledge lacks effective application in daily life. As a manufacturer and owner of a product development company, I hope to contribute to the transition from research and development to production and sales," Liu said.

In 2022, China successfully launched the Mengtian lab module, the third module of the country's Tiangong space station and also the second module for scientific experiments. To pay homage to China's aerospace achievements, the mobile game Honor of Kings, praised by many players for its "visual feast of exquisite skins," developed a space-themed skin for an in-game character and sought Liu's assistance in creating a prototype.

"But I am someone who likes to push their limits, and I believe that creating a simple prototype is too easy and lacks excitement. To pay tribute to our country's pursuit of excellence in aerospace development, I wanted to build a robot that went beyond a static model," Liu said.

The greater good

Six months later, her video featuring an exoskeleton-synchronized robot generated immense interest. In the video, Liu wears an exoskeleton, a wearable robotic suit with an integrated system of computers, and the robot mimics her movements, creating a synchronized effect controlled by a human.

The release of the video in late 2022 sparked lively netizen debate. Medical students suggested using it in surgical settings to improve synchronization between doctors and robotic arms. Many more netizens suggested improvements, such as adding a multi-camera motion capture system and changing materials and motors.

The comment section of the video became a trending forum for makers, with enthusiasts brainstorming improvements. Liu values their suggestions, providing feedback and emphasizing the collaborative effort behind the creations. She elaborated, "The works produced in this way are not just my achievements, but the joint efforts of everyone in the team; I think that's really wonderful."

Looking ahead today, Liu aims to create works that focus more on culture and society.

In 2017, she participated in charity work in Shanghai's Chongming District, where many children are at risk of drowning while walking to school along waterways. To address the difficulty of calling for help when submerged, Liu is now considering designing a polyhedron-shaped whistle for children to wear. When just a few of its faces are submerged, the whistle remains silent. When fully submerged, it will activate a distress signal.

"Become a useful person for society," is what Liu's grandfather expects of her. And Liu increasingly understands the true meaning of this statement.

By constantly reflecting on and striving toward this goal, she envisions a future in which her creations contribute to the greater good—the wellbeing of society.

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon

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