Reimagining final farewells
Young professionals in the funeral industry are blending tradition with innovation, offering personalized and meaningful services that honor life and reshape societal views on death.
Honoring with innovation
Zhu Xinye, an 18-year-old freshman at WSWP, developed an interest in modern funeral management after watching videos on Douyin.
"Respect for life is the core value of this industry," she said.
Zhu hopes that modern technology can bring a more human touch to funeral services.
"If AI could recreate the appearance and voice of the deceased, allowing them to say goodbye to their family, it could be a great comfort," she explained.
This vision is already taking shape. Shen shared that they used AI to simulate the voice of a 16-year-old boy, enabling him to "say" goodbye to his family at his funeral.
Shen also recalled a special memorial for a civilian hero — an elderly man who had suffered severe burns while rescuing others from a fire in his youth. Although he had recovered, his appearance was permanently altered.
For his memorial, Shen's team created a life-size hologram of the man as he had looked in his youth — handsome and whole.
"The man's daughter stood before the hologram, reaching out to touch her father's image," Shen remembered. "Even a small innovation like this holds great significance."
Beyond death's end
In addition to its funeral services, B.D.R has opened Shanghai's first "life cafe", designed as a comforting space for the families it serves.
Many families visit the cafe to remember their lost loved ones and share stories, extending the course of life through these memories.
The cafe has also attracted a diverse range of visitors. Shen mentioned that guests include children as young as 8, who come with their parents to learn about death, as well as a 70-year-old woman who traveled from Changsha in Hunan province just to engage in conversation.
"With the consent of families and guests, we created a card game inspired by their real-life stories," Shen said.
The game simulates real-life scenarios, where players draw random events and make choices that lead to different life paths. This year, the cafe is working on a youth version of the game in collaboration with universities and schools to incorporate it into death education programs.
"I once thought death would erase all meaning, but every time I witness the tears, regrets, and emotions of the deceased's family, I feel the true weight of life," Shen said.
