As a condensed matter theorist, I am broadly interested in uncovering new exotic phenomena that emerge from the interplay between topology and quantum mechanics. Topological phases of matter that host emergent particles known as `anyons’ are a particular fascination. I often draw inspiration from the idea that one can design experimentally realistic blueprints for these phases by piecing together well-understood components. Much of my work also aims to devise new detection and manipulation protocols in such designer architectures. In essence the goal is to ‘out-engineer nature’, both to approach quantum-information applications and to reveal new facets of quantum mechanics never before perceived in the laboratory.