The MIT Morningside Academy for Design (MAD) unveiled the 2024 Design Fellows at an event held at the MIT Museum on May 1, 2024. The Academy has continually supported MIT graduate students since its inception in 2022 by providing them with a fellowship enabling the pursuit of design research and projects, along with community-building. Interns at MAD explore varied areas of design, seeking solutions in sustainability, health, architecture, urban planning, engineering, and social justice.
Among the selected fellows, Sofia Chiappero, an MCP student in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning and MITdesignX affiliate, aims to address the challenges that underserved Latin communities at risk of displacement face. This she aims to achieve through research centered around social science and digital inclusion, working to replicate human interactions in virtual settings.
In contrast, Clemence Couteau, an MBA candidate in the MIT Sloan School of Management, is working on a digital solution to combat the increase in postpartum depression in U.S mothers. She is developing a self-directed therapy chatbot implemented as a mobile app utilizing the ROSE protocol.
Architectural student Mateo Fernandez seeks alternatives to current construction methods by exploring opportunities with biomaterials and advanced 3D printing technologies. Charlotte Folinus, a Doctoral Candidate in Mechanical Engineering, develops new processes to design soft robots suitable for gentle interactions, uncertain environments, and longer mechanical lifecycle.
Alexander Htet Kyaw, a postgraduate student in the Department of Architecture and the Department of Electrical Engineering, challenges conventional manufacturing and fabrication practices using AI, robotic assembly, multimodal interaction, and generative models.
On the other hand, Dení López, a PhD candidate in Urban Studies and Planning, uses design research to examine and extend the Bicheeche Diidxa’ scope, a Participatory Action Research initiative based on five Zapotec communities in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Some of the other fellows involved in this project include Caitlin Morris, Maxine Perroni-Scharf, Lyle Regenwetter, and Zane Schemmer. Each contributes their expertise in fields ranging from media arts and sciences, electrical engineering, and computer science to mechanical engineering and environmental engineering.
This diverse range of fellows embodies the objective of MAD to traverse various design realms, offering innovative solutions to ongoing issues. These projects reflect the dedication and commitment of original design thinking to tackle challenges in various social, technological, and environmental fields. All the fellows express excitement and gratitude to the MIT MAD for providing this platform to showcase and develop their innovative design solutions.
