Dr. Marcelo Coelho

Associate Professor of the Practice
Director, Design Intelligence Lab

Primary DLC

Department of Architecture

MIT Room: N52-373H

Areas of Interest and Expertise

Human-Computer Interaction
Industrial Design
Internet of Things (IoT)
Programmable Materials
Digital Fabrication
Crowd Interactions

Research Summary

Professor Coelho is the director of the Design Intelligence Lab, which explores the intersection of human and machine intelligence across design, AI, and fabrication. His work ranges from light-based installations to physical computing. Recognition for his work includes two Prix Ars Electronica awards and Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Award. Coelho’s experimental approach redefines creative processes, transforming how we imagine and interact with intelligent systems. Coelho teaches courses that bring together industrial design, user experience, and artificial intelligence.

Recent Work

  • Video

    Marcelo Coelho - 2018 RD Conference

    November 21, 2018Conference Video Duration: 24:56

    Material Boundaries: The Future of Product Design and Manufacturing

    Digital fabrication and computational materials are enabling the design and manufacturing of objects that are mass-customizable, interconnected, and can fundamentally adapt to users’ needs and requirements. This talk will present a series of research projects and technologies that push the boundaries of how materials and computers can be intertwined to create new products and experiences — from the nanoscale to a stadium, from a single person to a crowd — and that redefine how we perceive and interact with physical world.

    2018 MIT Research and Development Conference