We are proud to announce the speakers for this year’s Design Computation Symposium at Autodesk University. Now in its eighth year, the Design Computation Symposium is one of the premier events at Autodesk University. This year we are broadening the reach of the half-day symposium with the theme: “Ubiquitous Computing: How Computing Is Being Made More Accessible.” Writing code has traditionally been the realm of computer nerds and scientists. Today, high-school, middle school, and even elementary school students are learning programming. With the rise of STE(A)M in education and the teaching of Computational Literacy in schools, how is the world changing and what will this current generation come to expect out of design tools in the near future? Mobile devices and new ways of programming are opening up the world of computing to more people. Instant feedback allows this expanded group of programmers to test their solutions instantly and create better tools. With computational resources that are easier to access, the focus can change from how to write code correctly to what kinds of problems can we solve, which problems are worth solving, and how well can we solve them? Come hear fascinating stories from inventors, entrepreneurs, architects, and academics about how they are enabling more people to leverage design computation in inspiring ways.
Be sure to register for the symposium which will take place Wednesday, November 16 from 1-4:30pm. Space is limited!
Phil Bernstein, FAIA, Vice President, Strategic Industry Relations at Autodesk.
Phil Bernstein is responsible for leading a team that sets the company’s future vision and strategy for technology as well as cultivating and sustaining the firm’s relationships with strategic industry leaders and associations. Prior to joining Autodesk, Phil practiced architecture as a principal at Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects where he managed many of the firm’s most complex commissions. Phil has taught at the Yale School of Architecture as a Lecturer in Professional Practice since 1988. Phil writes and lectures extensively about practice and technology issues. He will kick off the symposium and introduce the topic and the speakers.
Valentin Huen, MIT Media Lab
Valentin Huen is a PhD candidate and research assistant at MIT Media Lab, where his research focuses on new computer interaction metaphors for the physical space. He is interested in transferring benefits from our shared digital experiences to our physical reality. He has been interviewed by online media outlets such as Fast Company, Vice, Verge, Wired, Core77, PSFK, the Daily Dot, Stylepark, Makezine and Boston Globe; received the 2012 SIGGRAPH Asia Emerging Technologies Prize, was awarded by Wired UK to the Smart List 2013, Postscapes 2016 Editors Choice Award for IoT Software & Tools, a finalist for the Fast Company’s 2016 Innovation by Design Award and his work was named by Fast Company as Boldest Ideas in User Interface Design 2015. Currently, he is using his interdisciplinary design and engineering skills to build tools that empower designers. His talk is titled: “The Reality Editor: An Open and Universal Tool for Understanding and Controlling the Connected World.”
Fred G Martin, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Fred G Martin is a professor of Computer Science and Director of Student Success for the College of Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML). Martin is a leader in K-12 Computer Science education policy work in Massachusetts and nationally. In 2014, Martin launched CS Pathways (cspathways.org), an NSF-funded collaboration with the school districts of Everett and Medford, MA. Based on MIT App Inventor, the project brings computer science education to middle school students. Students learn computing by making mobile apps for social good — building community and sharing personal passions. This has engaged students who are traditionally underrepresented in computing. His research group develops and studies novel computational environments for learning. His talk title is “Empowering middle schoolers to create data-rich community apps.”
Rajaa Issa, Robert McNeel & Associates
Rajaa Issa is a member of the Rhinoceros 3D development team with special focus on the field of architectural geometry, solid modeling, parametric design and the rationalization and paneling of complex surfaces. Her recent work at Newschool of Architecture and Design in San Diego involves developing a curriculum that uses computation and digital fabrication as an integral part of the design process in architecture. She organized and co-chaired the first NewSchool Symposium in Computational Design in the Fall of 2015 where she published a case study of her teaching methodology in a paper titled “Essential Education for Computational Design in Architecture”. Her professional work as software developer at Robert McNeel & Associates involves developing intuitive tools to help model and rationalize NURBS geometry. She created a number of architectural and parametric plug-ins including PanelingTools for Rhino and Grasshopper. She also authored a number of papers and manuals including the “Essential Mathematics of Computational Design”. Her talk is titled: “Bits and bytes in Architecture.”
Max Oglesbee, Intersection
As Head of Client Strategy, Design & Technologies at Intersection, Max Oglesbee establishes and broadens relationships with Intersection’s clients and partners, translating the unique needs of organizations into the best strategy to deliver transformative results. Intersection is a technology and media company that aims to redefine the urban experience. Partnering with industry leaders and Fortune 50 corporations, Max helps brands evolve their business through the strategic application of technology, forward-looking product development, and a reinvention of the customer experience. Since 2007, Max has nurtured and shaped Intersection’s consulting practice, leading long-term engagements, driving compelling opportunities forward and enabling our team’s extraordinary work. He has established and leads relationships such as Verizon, World Wide Group, and Gagosian Gallery, where he led work to implement a next-generation digital toolset to reinforce the organization’s position as the top gallery in the world. Currently, as an innovation partner to the world’s largest retailer, Max is leading a team to drive the evolution of in-store customer experience strategy in addition to his broader efforts on the Technology team.
Martha Tsigkari, Fosters + Partners
Martha Tsigkari is a Partner and a member of the Applied Research and Development (ARD) group at Foster + Partners. She is a specialist in a wide range of areas including Performance-driven Design and Optimisation, Interfaces & Interaction, Design-to-production and Fast Feedback & Integration. Her work incorporates the development of simulation tools, the introduction of integrated processes and the creation of physical interfaces. She has provided solutions for hundreds of diverse projects such as the new airport for Mexico City, Lusail Iconic Stadium for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the new metro stations for Jeddah, UAE’s 2015 Expo Pavilion, the Sheikh Zayed Museum and YachtPlus Boat Fleet. She is a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects, a tutor at UCL and a juror at AA. She has taught, lectured and published on the subjects of BIM, parametric and algorithmic design internationally.
Ryan Welch, Kiernan Timberlake
Ryan Welch is an associate at KieranTimberlake, a prominent architecture firm established in 1984 and a leader in practice-based architectural research and innovative buildings. As a member of the firm’s trans-disciplinary research group, he focuses on building performance modeling and simulation, primarily through the development of digital tools that provide rapid quantitative and visual feedback early in the design process. His projects include Tally®, a custom LCA application for Revit that allows architects to calculate the environmental impacts of their building material choices; and Pointelist™, a low-cost building sensor suite. Together with his colleague Billie Faircloth, Ryan has taught workshops in thermodynamics at Harvard GSD, University of Minnesota, and the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, and he is presently a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania School of Design. His talk is titled: “What are “Near Future Practices” and how can you engage them?”.
Be sure to register for the symposium today!