Computational Design: NEXT 1.0

Arturo Tedeschi is an Italian architect and computational designer internationally renowned for his sculptural and visionary approach combined with research on advanced design methods, materials, and fabrication technologies. His use of digital technologies blurs the line between disciplines and emphasizes the semantic and emotional values of objects. As a consultant, he worked with some of the world’s most influential brands in fashion design, sportswear, automotive, and architecture, providing services related to algorithmic modeling, complex geometry, digital fabrication, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and data-driven design. His personal work has been featured in international magazines such as Forbes, Wired, Dezeen, AD, and Business Insider and exhibited worldwide. He is the author of the books Parametric Architecture with Grasshopper and AAD Algorithms-Aided Design unanimously considered one of the global references on the subject. Since 2011 he promoted and directed more than 200 events and workshops that trained a generation of students and professionals. In 2019 he was appointed Italian Ambassador for Design by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He lives and works in Milano, Italy.

Michael Pryor is a multi-faceted designer utilizing Rhino + Grasshopper, C#, Maya, ZBrush, Houdini and others. He is currently a Head of Procedural Generation at Wilder World Metaverse and the CDO of DesignMorphine. Previously he was a Computational Designer at Nike NXT on performance footwear. He has been involved in various major architectural works in the US, China, Dubai, and Lebanon. Previously, he worked at Trahan, SOMA, OLI, and [AY]A on projects ranging from museums, housing, restaurants, furniture, products, exhibits and prototypes. Michael is the author of the popular Grasshopper3d plug-in Pufferfish with over 150k downloads. He has been the tutor to workshops by the AA visiting school Paris with Louis Vuitton, 3D-Dreaming, Rese.Arch, MIT OSL, Harvard GSD, rat[LAB], PA, Meal, and DesignMorphine.

Sushant Jai-Amita Verma is a Design Entrepreneur, Architect, Computational Designer & Educator, and currently leading rat[LAB] Studio (Research in Architecture and Technology) (www.rat-lab.org) that investigates intersections of design, art & technology through architecture, interior design, and art installations. He holds a master’s Degree in Emergent Technologies & Design from the Architectural Association, London, and is a former architect at Zaha Hadid Architects, London & a Sr. Editor at Arch2O. He founded rat[LAB] EDUCATION, an initiative to spread the idea of computation in design through independently-organized design workshops for professionals and academia. Recipient of the MAK Schindler Award from Vienna / Los Angeles and a finalist for the AIA Emerging Leaders Fellowship from Chicago, his work is widely published and exhibited in London, Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo, San Francisco, Taipei, New Delhi, and Mumbai, among other places. Sushant joined the elite list of TEDx Speakers by speaking at TEDxGurugram on ‘Smart Cities need Smarter Design Education’. His second TEDxTalk was recently given at the prestigious IIT KGP, where he inspired young professionals to pursue their passions in Design & Technology. He also started and currently heads Smart Labs – India’s first 6-month hybrid program on Computational Design that blends studio learning and e-learning using a technology-oriented approach. His third TEDx talk was recently delivered at IIT Bhubaneswar on the Diffusion of Technology in Architecture.