Michael Felix Design Scientist

PROFILE

Michael Felix is a Design Scientist working within the fields of Interaction, Industrial, and Service design. His interests lie more within the development of living systems over static images and pre-visualized concepts designed for aesthetics alone. This focus has grown from his attraction toward emergent processes - specifically the study of ecological systems and their effectiveness in gradually unfolding order and function. Through his work, he seeks to apply a similar living process towards the deployment of expressive frameworks that evolve form and behavior as a result of local context.

SKILLS

• Interaction Design

  Adept in crafting persona-based, scenario-driven interactions founded in discoveries from user-centered research. Skilled in observation, inquiry, and ethnographic research. Capable of rendering complex hierarchies of information into approachable, human-friendly structures. Able to quickly develop and test interactive prototypes and mockups. Champion of user experience over developmental ease.

• Industrial Design

  Maintains a solid understanding of form, behavior, and aesthetics. Deeply interested in human/object relationships. Cognizant of the impact of human factors, ergonomics, and usability. Familiar with the dynamic nature of manufacturability, marketing, and engineering associated with the development of consumer products.

• Teaching

  Able to teach complex theories, skills, methods and ideas to students from a variety of ages and backgrounds. Trained in leading constructive critiques. Motivates students to learn through playing, making, and accepting failure. Exhibits an ability to quickly improvise and empathize with different viewpoints and worldviews.

• Making

  Comfortable working with tools, pixels, and code. Able to transpose sketches and diagrams into functioning objects and systems. Fluent in HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, Ruby, C++. Experienced with using Arudino microcontrollers and sensors to create robots, interfaces and dynamic environments. Knowledgeable fabricator, skilled in 3d-printing and CNC processes.

• Systems Thinking

  Intensely curious. Approaches problem solving iteratively through a process of experimentation, documentation and analysis. High tolerance for volatility, uncertainty and ambiguity. Able to decompose complex systems into tangible elements without losing sight of the whole. Acutely aware of feeling and intuition.

INTERESTS

Present research interests center around the application of sound as a medium for conveying data and the utilization of extrapersonal space as a canvas for conducting human/computer interaction. Maintains an interest in parametrically-generated spaceframe systems for the fabrication of geodesic domes and nature-inspired forms. Records and performs electronic music under the % (pronounced owner/operator) moniker.