I recieved my master degree (Msc) in 2008 from the faculty of industrial design engineering (IDE) in integrated product design (IPD) at TU Delft in the Netherlands with a specialization in design for sustainability (DfS). My final thesis was conducted in the field of exhibition design. I worked together with Kiss the Frog and Northern Light to create an adaptive mobile GPS guide to expose historical gems and hidden histories within the city of Utrecht, linking static content city archive content with dynamic city exploration.
I completed my bachelor degrees at MIT, one in architecture and the other in mechanical engineering. During the school year and summers I participated in several research projects with the MARS research labs at MIT and NC State University (unrelated), the Edgerton center, and the CAD Lab at MIT. I also worked at the front desk of my dorm, East Campus as a glorified doorkeeper. I divided my time working at the front desk between watching hundreds of movies and sorting mail.
My mixed background is primarily due the fact that I want to try and learn everything. I especially like interdisciplinary projects combining art, design, technology, and theory. The challenges of problem solving, especially the negotiation of function and aesthetic within a diverse context appeal to me. Additionally, I am interested in bridging new technologies to useful and innovative applications, especially regarding the issue of sustainability.
At MIT, I was an NCAA fencer and a starter for the weapon saber for four years. I DJ'ed for the student radio station, WMBR 88.1 FM, hosting the show, Out of the Trashcan, with my friend Shereen (and later others) with the goal of publicizing local and upcoming bands in the area. I was also a photographer for the MIT yearbook, Technique.
In Delft, I play cello with Krashna Musika on Monday evenings. I am also playing in a band, the Boxers and trying my hand at making music. I collaborate with the band Kinderen tegen Kinderen as well as an improvisational dance troupe, Dattah Dance, in small projects. Because I love music and film, I find myself volunteering for festivals in exchange for free admittance, such as the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), and also Motel Mozaique (music festival). I also am taking courses in screen printing at the Cultural Center in Delft and working on many graphic design side projects for friends and for myself.
Right now, I am working for the TU Delft doing research and organizing the international symposium, Challenging the Future: Designing for sustainable living and work and organizing an interdisciplinary design project about public space in prefab neighborhoods in Moscow, all the while just trying to have fun while figuring out what I want to do next. I am always interested in working on and collaborating in fun, interesting projects.