NEGAR KALANTAR

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I’m a creative technologist, researcher, and educator working across architecture, technology, and material systems. My work explores how emerging tools—like robotic fabrication, AI, and biomaterials—can reshape both the built environment and how we learn to shape it.

Currently, I serve as an Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Digital Craft Lab at California College of the Arts in San Francisco. I teach courses in design media, digital fabrication, and material research, with a focus on climate-conscious design, hands-on experimentation, and interdisciplinary learning. Over the years, I’ve developed experimental studios such as Robotic Craft and tranSTUDIO, taught at CCA, Texas A&M, and Virginia Tech.

My research spans additive /Robotic manufacturing, transformable systems, and sustainable building materials. I’ve led and collaborated on numerous projects supported by the National Science Foundation, Autodesk Technology Centers.

I’m also the founding partner of NYFT.Design, a platform for exploring parametrically designed objects and interactive products.

I’ve collaborated with industry leaders like Perkins&Will, Gensler, and SOM on future-facing projects—from robotic construction experiments to 3D-printed bridge prototypes. My work has been recognized with awards such as the Dornfeld Manufacturing Vision Award and has been featured in The Guardian, BBC, and other media.