QWSTION MUSE:
NERI OXMAN

Uniting technology with nature, the visionary architect and designer unleashes materiality’s potential.

When it comes to materials development, one pioneer who’s pushing the boundaries to synthesise nature and technology – in her very own way – is Neri Oxman, architect, designer, and professor at MIT Media Lab.

Not only is Oxman a leader in this field, she’s also carved out her own niche within it: “Material Ecology”, a research area which aligns design processes from biology and technology to create otherworldly materials, objects and even buildings in accordance with the natural world.

Together with her Mediated Matter research team, Oxman deconstructs the boundaries between nature, biology and the built environment to create new possibilities across art, product and fashion design, science, and architecture. From a 3D printed second skin and wearables for astronomical exploration and programmable water-based biocomposites, their revelatory work has caught the attention of Bjork and Brad Pitt, among others. To discover what makes Oxman tick, watch her TED Talk or read this New York Times profile.