A professor of the Department of Environmental Art Design at Tsinghua University and the deputy dean of the Beijing Tsingshang Architectural Design and Research Institute, Ma Yixi has been involved in the design of many important projects, including the halls of Chongqing, Anhui, Hunan, Jiangxi, Qinghai, Jilin, and Liaoning the Great Hall of the People and the Beijing Yanqi Lake International Convention & Exhibition Center.

Ma was granted many honors, including the Outstanding Contribution to China Interior Design Award, China Interior Design Outstanding Achievement Award and the Exploit Person of the China Building Decoration Association Award.