Behnaz Farahi is an Iranian-born American interdisciplinary designer and educator whose work melds architecture, fashion, interaction design, computational design, wearable technology, and the human body. She established her practice with the mission to explore the potential of interactive environments and their relationship to the human body. Farahi's current approach focuses on integrating circular economy principles into her design processes, creating innovative and sustainable solutions that address social and cultural issues. Core values include sustainability, innovation, and social commentary, with a purpose to redefine the relationship between design, technology, and the environment.
Location
Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, USA.
Primary manufacturing/operations locations: Various global locations for projects and collaborations.
The Circular Vision
Core circular economy principles: Designing out waste, using sustainable and recycled materials, and creating interactive designs that promote environmental awareness and sustainable practices.
Key innovations: Development of projects like "Caress of the Gaze," a 3D-printed animatronic cape that reacts to onlookers' gaze, and "Returning the Gaze," a cyber-physical robotic installation challenging the male gaze in the fashion industry.
Prioritization of local sourcing and closed-loop supply chains: Emphasis on using advanced manufacturing techniques and sustainable materials, though specific information on local sourcing is not provided.
Pioneering Solutions
Flagship projects: Farahi's portfolio includes innovative projects such as "Caress of the Gaze" (a 3D-printed cape with eye-tracking capabilities), "Can The Subaltern Speak?" (AI-enhanced masks for secret communication), and "Returning the Gaze" (a robotic installation for Milan Fashion Week).
The Regenerative Future
R&D focus areas: Advancing interactive design techniques, exploring new applications for wearable technology and sustainable materials, and developing solutions that further reduce waste and energy consumption in design and production processes.
Ambitious goals: To lead the design industry in sustainable and socially responsible practices, create zero-waste interactive designs, and inspire a shift towards a regenerative approach to design and technology.
Fact Sheet
Commercial Availability: Design services and interactive installations available through collaborations, exhibitions, and partnerships with cultural institutions and brands.
Circularity Rating: 4/5 (Strong focus on integrating circular economy principles and interactive design, though full lifecycle considerations are not explicitly mentioned).
Key Certifications: Winner of the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum Digital Design Award (2021), Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Honorable Mention (2022), World Technology Award in Design (2016).
Cost Rating: High-end pricing for innovative and interactive design pieces.
Material Passport: Detailed exploration of sustainable and interactive materials in projects, though formal material passports are not mentioned.
Designed for Disassembly: Information not explicitly provided, but emphasis on advanced manufacturing and interactive design suggests potential for adaptability.
Carbon Performance: Focus on reducing environmental impact through the use of sustainable materials and advanced manufacturing techniques. Specific carbon metrics not provided.
Key Takeaway
Behnaz Farahi transforms the design industry through innovative, sustainable solutions that prioritize circular economy principles and interactive technology, setting a benchmark for environmental responsibility and social commentary in contemporary design.
Explore Further
Behnaz Farahi website: https://behnazfarahi.com
Behnaz Farahi is an Iranian-born American interdisciplinary designer and educator whose work melds architecture, fashion, interaction design, computational design, wearable technology, and the human body. She established her practice with the mission to explore the potential of interactive environments and their relationship to the human body. Farahi's current approach focuses on integrating circular economy principles into her design processes, creating innovative and sustainable solutions that address social and cultural issues. Core values include sustainability, innovation, and social commentary, with a purpose to redefine the relationship between design, technology, and the environment.
Location
Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, USA.
Primary manufacturing/operations locations: Various global locations for projects and collaborations.
The Circular Vision
Core circular economy principles: Designing out waste, using sustainable and recycled materials, and creating interactive designs that promote environmental awareness and sustainable practices.
Key innovations: Development of projects like "Caress of the Gaze," a 3D-printed animatronic cape that reacts to onlookers' gaze, and "Returning the Gaze," a cyber-physical robotic installation challenging the male gaze in the fashion industry.
Prioritization of local sourcing and closed-loop supply chains: Emphasis on using advanced manufacturing techniques and sustainable materials, though specific information on local sourcing is not provided.
Pioneering Solutions
Flagship projects: Farahi's portfolio includes innovative projects such as "Caress of the Gaze" (a 3D-printed cape with eye-tracking capabilities), "Can The Subaltern Speak?" (AI-enhanced masks for secret communication), and "Returning the Gaze" (a robotic installation for Milan Fashion Week).
The Regenerative Future
R&D focus areas: Advancing interactive design techniques, exploring new applications for wearable technology and sustainable materials, and developing solutions that further reduce waste and energy consumption in design and production processes.
Ambitious goals: To lead the design industry in sustainable and socially responsible practices, create zero-waste interactive designs, and inspire a shift towards a regenerative approach to design and technology.
Fact Sheet
Commercial Availability: Design services and interactive installations available through collaborations, exhibitions, and partnerships with cultural institutions and brands.
Circularity Rating: 4/5 (Strong focus on integrating circular economy principles and interactive design, though full lifecycle considerations are not explicitly mentioned).
Key Certifications: Winner of the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum Digital Design Award (2021), Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Honorable Mention (2022), World Technology Award in Design (2016).
Cost Rating: High-end pricing for innovative and interactive design pieces.
Material Passport: Detailed exploration of sustainable and interactive materials in projects, though formal material passports are not mentioned.
Designed for Disassembly: Information not explicitly provided, but emphasis on advanced manufacturing and interactive design suggests potential for adaptability.
Carbon Performance: Focus on reducing environmental impact through the use of sustainable materials and advanced manufacturing techniques. Specific carbon metrics not provided.
Key Takeaway
Behnaz Farahi transforms the design industry through innovative, sustainable solutions that prioritize circular economy principles and interactive technology, setting a benchmark for environmental responsibility and social commentary in contemporary design.
Explore Further
Behnaz Farahi website: https://behnazfarahi.com
