The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with mode conversion for ultrasound and acoustic radiation devices. A mode converting structure (holographic metamaterial) is formed with a distribution of acoustic material properties selected to convert an acoustic pressure pattern from a first mode to a second mode to attain a target radiation pattern that is different from the input radiation pattern. A solution to a holographic equation provides a sufficiently accurate approximation of a distribution of acoustic material properties to form a mode converting device. One or more optimization algorithms can be used to improve the efficiency of the mode conversion and generation of the acoustic mode converter.