By: Skylar Tibbits (Self-assembly Lab MIT), 2012
Material: UV-cured polymers
Technology: Polyjet
Manufactured by: Self-Assembly Lab, MIT
4D printing uses multiple materials to build full functionality into a single print. This means the 4D-printed object can transform from one shape to another directly off the print bed without relying on electro-mechanical devices.
Skylar Tibbits is the director of the Self-Assembly Lab housed at MIT’s International Design Center. The Self-Assembly Lab focuses on self-assembly and programmable material technologies for novel manufacturing, products and construction processes.
Skylar is a member of the faculty in the Department of Architecture, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate design studios and co-teaches “How to Make (Almost) Anything”, a seminar at MIT’s Media Lab, with Neil Gershenfeld. Skylar was recently awarded a 2014 Inaugural WIRED Fellowship, a 2014 Gifted Citizen award, a Fast Company Innovation by Design Award in 2013, a 2013 Architectural League Prize, The Next Idea Award at Ars Electronica 2013, the Visionary Innovation Award at the Manufacturing Leadership Summit, a 2012 TED Senior Fellowship, and was named a Revolutionary Mind in SEED Magazine’s 2008 Design Issue.
