Since its launch in 2022, the MIT Morningside Academy of Design (MAD) has supported MIT graduate students through community, enabling audiences to continue their research and design projects while building community. Drawing from various corners of design, they explore solutions in areas such as sustainability, health, architecture, urban planning, engineering and social justice.
On May 1, MAD announced 2024 Design Fellows cohort at the MIT Museum.
Meet the MIT MAD 2024 Design Fellows
Video: MIT Morningside Academy for Design
Sofia ChiapperoMCP student in Department of Urban Studies and Planning AND MITdesignX affiliate: Chiappero works at the intersection of community development and technology to address the challenges facing underserved communities at risk of displacement in Latin America. Combining social sciences and digital inclusion, it seeks to design novel approaches to studying human interactions and replicating them in virtual environments, with the ultimate goal of preserving the identity of these communities and giving them visibility for sustainable growth.
Clemence CouteauMBA candidate in MIT Sloan School of Management: Couteau is combating rising rates of postpartum depression among U.S. mothers by working to develop a digital solution that enables at-risk pregnant women to improve their mental health outcomes. It involves a stand-alone therapeutic chatbot in a mobile application, based on the “ROSE” protocol.
Mateo FernandezMarch student of class Department of Architecture: Fernandez is exploring how to move away from the current construction industry by designing alternatives such as growing buildings using biomaterials and implementing advanced 3D printing technologies in construction.
Charlotte FolinusPhD student in Faculty of Mechanical Engineering: Folinus creates novel methods for supple robot design, using these tools to design supple robots adapted to exquisite interactions, uncertain environments and long mechanical lifespan. “I’m very excited to be surrounded by people who can do things that I can’t. Then I am the best version of myself. I think that’s the kind of community I will find here,” he says.
Alexander Htet Kyawmaster’s degree Department of Architecture and Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science AND MITdesignX affiliate: Htet Kyaw’s current research uses robotic assembly, multimodal interaction, and generative artificial intelligence to challenge conventional manufacturing practices. He is working on an artificial intelligence-based workflow that translates design intent into tangible objects through robotic assembly.
Deni Lopez PhD student in Department of Urban Studies and Planning: As a design specialist, López uses design research to evaluate and expand the scope of Bicheeche Diidxa’, a multi-year participatory action research initiative for disaster resilience focusing on five Zapotec communities along the Los Perros River in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Caitlin MorrisPhD student in media arts and sciences: Morris’ research explores the role of multi-sensory influences on cognition and learning and aims to find and build bridges between digital and computational interfaces and practical, community-centered learning and teaching practices.
Maxine Perroni-ScharfPhD student in Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science: Perroni-Scharf is currently working to develop techniques to discover and design extreme metamaterials — 3D printed materials that exhibit extreme properties that result not from their chemical composition, but rather from their structure. They can be applied to a variety of tasks, from battery design to accessibility.
Rainy weather in LylePhD student in Faculty of Mechanical Engineering: Regenwetter is developing methods to incorporate design requirements, such as security constraints and performance goals, into the process of training generative AI models.
Zane SchemerPhD student in Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Schemmer’s research aims to minimize the carbon footprint of the built environment by designing effective structures that take into account the availability of local materials.