“We are thrilled for Professor Behnaz Farahi to join us at MIT, the Media Lab, and in the Morningside Academy for Design. Her work exemplifies the fusion of design and technology to address the very essence of our humanity and societal challenges," states Dava Newman, Director of the MIT Media Lab and Apollo Program Professor of Astronautics chair at MIT. "From advanced wearable technologies to beautiful aesthetic installations, she probes critical questions about the observer and the observed and delves in to evocative human and machine emotions. Behnaz’ critical making prowess includes works at the intersection of interactive design, computational design, robotics, and innovative materials. Her scholarship impact is epitomized by her recent book Interactive Design: Towards a Responsive Environment and foundational 3-D Printed Body Architecture book. She is an excellent teacher and mentor and we enthusiastically welcome Behnaz to our community.”
Farahi is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum Digital Design Award, Innovation by Design Fast Company Award, and the World Technology Award.
Her work has been included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. It has also been exhibited internationally at Ars Electronica, Linz and Context Art Miami, SIGGRAPH, La Piscine Museum in France, and A+D Architecture and Design Museum in LA. It has also been featured in several magazines and online websites including WIRED, BBC, CNN, The Guardian, Frame Magazine, and many more.
Farahi has served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Design at California State University, Long Beach (2020-24). She has also worked with leading firms such as Adidas, Autodesk, Fuksas Studio, and 3DSystems / will-i-am.
"Behnaz is a recognized multiple award-winning artist who incorporates edgy technology in her work and she has exhibited in notable venues worldwide," states Joseph A. Paradiso, Alexander W. Dreyfoos (1954) Professor and Associate Academic Head, Program in Media Arts and Sciences at the MIT Media Lab. "I’ve known her now for a good seven years, having originally met at Ars Electronica in 2017, where I was very impressed with the work she was showing there. Behnaz is the kind of artist who complements the Lab’s legacy in this area while advancing our artistic side into a rapidly changing world."
In this new position, Behnaz Farahi will lead transformative design research initiatives that merge technology and creativity to address societal challenges.
She will supervise and mentor graduate students, teaching courses in Media Arts and Sciences at the MIT Media Lab (under the MIT School of Architecture and Planning) while fostering a culture of innovation and inclusivity at the Media Lab and the Morningside Academy for Design. Farahi's work will extend human creativity through advanced technologies, new methodologies, and emerging materials. She will engage in cross-disciplinary collaboration to develop tools and experiences that inspire and support creative thinking and expression.
Her efforts will particularly focus on empowering marginalized communities, ensuring that diverse voices are included in the creative process. Through these initiatives, she will play a key role in shaping the future of design at MIT and beyond. Farahi's research will encompass a broad range of design fields, including architecture, urban planning, and immersive experience design. She will also work closely with cultural, educational, philanthropic, entrepreneurial, corporate, and governmental organizations to mobilize new communities of creativity. Her leadership will help extend MIT's long tradition of innovation in design, fostering an environment where technology and creativity converge to solve real-world problems.
"I am thrilled to join MIT Media Lab and engage with the Morningside Academy for Design and look forward to engaging with the opportunities ahead and establishing my research group," states Farahi.
My goal is that we will engage in innovative research and imaginative collaborations that go beyond the mere application of technology. Rather, we strive to use technology in a more critical and meaningful way.
"Across the scale from fashion to architecture to the city, we will address topics, ranging from psychological concerns to social, political, cultural, and environmental issues. To do this, we will engage with various technologies of computer vision, novel materials, and digital fabrication. The unique interdisciplinary approach of the Media Lab will undoubtedly open doors to groundbreaking discoveries and transformative experiences. I cannot wait to start my journey with such a talented and forward-thinking community."