- Responsive Environments
Irmandy received his M.Sc. ETH '16 in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology from the ETH Zurich and S.M. '19 and Ph.D. '24 in Media Arts and Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As of 2025, he is an Assistant Professor (Presidential Young Professor) at the College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, where he directs the Soft Technologies Lab (stl@NUS).
His work delves into the design, fabrication, and interaction techniques of soft, flexible and stretchable electronics for ubiquitous and wearable computing, sensing, and actuation. He often explores the creative synergy and interplay between art, design, science, and engineering, drawing inspiration from textiles as a medium of craft. The seamless integration of electronics into everyday materials through digital fabrication such as machine knitting and printed circuits has unlocked various applications, including health and well-being, rehabilitation, human-computer interfaces, interactive media, and immersive built environments. He has been working closely with textile and flexible electronic factories, fostering a strong connection between research and manufacturing.
Throughout his research and studies, he was involved in several companies and institutions (Accenture Labs - Future Tech, StudioXO for Haus of Gaga, Atmel/Microchip, and KAUST) and in areas such as fashion/wearable technology and consumer electronics, from designing mechatronic dress, spacesuits, to developing stretchable electronic patches and wearable, interior, and architectural fabrics. His work has been published and featured in various academic journals and conferences, as well as science, technology, and arts+design media outlets, including IEEE, ACM, Nature, Popular Science, TechCrunch, Dezeen, Designboom, and Domus Magazine. His projects and installations have also been exhibited in Burning Man, SXSW, MIT Museum, Cambridge Science Festival, Boston Fashion Week, Lexus Intersect Tokyo, and the World Economic Forum.