Z urich- based practice for arts, architecture and digital technologies run by Maria Smigielska.
Within research, education and business development domains, we focus on both [creative design] and [robotic solutions].
Check our [projects], learn more [about] us and [contact] us for inquiries.
[creative design]
We are creative designers, architects, thinkers, experimenters, technologists, artists and researchers merging all varied skillsets to create the new.
[about]
Maria Smigielska is a researcher, creative designer and educator based in Zurich, Switzerland, oscilating between architecture, arts and digial technology.
Graduated from Architecture department at TU Poznan (Poland, 2009) and the postgraduate program at the chair for Computer Aided Architectural Design at ETH Zurich (Switzerland, 2013).
Balancing between research and the applied world, joined Baierbischofberger Architects, Zurich in 2014 to implement computational design methods and rationalize complex geometries, specially facades of art-oriented buildings, as well as assisted in various innovative academic project of smaller scale (Digital Grotesque, ETH).
Independently explores varied computational design and develops robotic processes for fabrication (f.ex. robotic rod bending – bendilicious.com) in order to simplify over constrained industrial systems in architectural production.
Continuously shares professional experience and knowledge within varied collaborations (Edyta, Augustynowicz, AREA Institute, The Object), teaching during educational workshops (ENSA Paris Malaquais 2017, Industrial Design FHNW Basel, Fashion and Technology UfG Linz) and exhibiting/presenting during conferences and Biennales (Tallinn Architecture Bienale 2017, Design Modelling Symposium 2017, Paris, Ars Electronica Linz 2018).
Maria is currently a researcher at FHNW Basel, and runs her design practice in Zurich.
Art works are represented by Art[n+1] in Paris.
recent talks:
2019.10, ZHdK, Interaction Design, students lecture, Zurich, Switzerland
2019.10, AIAAF conference talk, Cottbus, Germany
2018.11 Research Design Methods Festival, HKB, Bern
2018.10 ‘Expanding Immersive Design’ conference talk, ZHdK, Zurich
2018.10 University of Art and Design FHNW, Basel
2018.06 “Uneasy art to collect” Czapsky Art Foundation, Poznan, Poland
2018.06 “Robots, creativity and the need of fiction” Poznan University of Technology, Poznan, Poland
2017.09 ENSA V, Paris, Design Modelling Symposium, ‘Application of Machine Learning Within the Integrative Design and Fabrication of Robotic Rod Bending Processes’
2017.03 TU Graz, Open Lecture at the Institute of Architecture and Media in Graz / link
2017.06 Zurich, maker talk @Fablab Zurich
2017.03 AREA Institute, Paris PLEXUS PARIS #02
recent publications:
2019.04, “Automation in design’, Places of Design, FHNW, Industrial Design
2018.05, chapter “The future is now” from Czapski Art Foundation publication ‘Akademia Rynku Sztuki #2’
2017.09, paper publication ”Application of Machine Learning within the integrative design and fabrication of robotic rod bending processes” during Design Modelling Symposium 2017 conference
recent exhibitions:
2019.10, Lab 30 Media Festival, group exhibition, Augsburg, DE
2019.05, Design Festival Bern, group exhibition, CH
2018.10, ‘The first dance’ performance, ZHdK, Zurich, CH
2018.10, ‘The first dance’ performance, Kulturfolger, Zurich, CH
2018.10, Bits Bots and Brains duo exhibition with Pierre Cutellic, Tetem, Entschede, NL ( curated by Ella Buzo)
2018.09, Proteus 2.0, with Pierre Cutellic, Ars Electronica Festival AT/ link
2018.05, ‘The Means’ project with Mateusz Zwierzycki, Ars Electronica Center, Linz AT/ link
2018.05, ‘Proteus’ project, with Pierre Cutellic, Creative Robotics exhibition ( curated by Johannes Braumann and Kristina Maurer), Ars Electronica Center, Linz AT / link
2017.10, ‘drawN’ project, DRAWBOT exhibition (curated by Emmanuelle Chiappone-Piriou, Leslie Ware), ART[n+1] gallery Paris FR / link
2017.09, ‘The Means’ project with Mateusz Zwierzycki, Tallinn Architecture Biennale ( curated by Claudia Pasquero) EE / link
meet our partners and collaborators link
[robotic solutions]
We develop robotic solutions for non-industrial and performative purposes in following fields. read more
RESEARCH
Bendilicious is an ongoing research initiated by Maria Smigielska during her residency with AREA Institute in Paris to develop simplified robotic rod bending fabrication in post-industrial fashion, as well as its aligned computational design methodologies. This research is currently being conducted at Creative Robotics department of Johannes Braumann at University of Arts and Design in Linz.
read more at bendilicious.com
EDUCATION
WORKSHOPS
Educational workshops for students and young professionals across arts and architecture disciplines. Individually, as well as in collaboration with academic institutions and schools. read more
KIDS with TECH
Educational events dedicated for children to be introduced to the potentials of technologies in a playful way. read more
DESIGN PROJECTS
PERFORMATIVE ARTS
We see the robot as a performer on stage with carefully designed choreography, as well as in interactive and real time setup
COMMERCIAL AND ARTS EVENTS
We support tech-oriented companies and other institutions during their business events with robotic live performances and demonstrations in Zurich and rest of Switzerland. read more
[contact]
maria @ mariasni.com +41 78 682 35 26
Agnesstrasse 5, Zurich 8004
