As a Design Fellow, Anita’s research re-examines pneumatic logic to develop tailored, multi-cavity inflatable assemblies that embed control, sequencing, and behavior directly into material systems, positioning air as both a control mechanism and a fabrication tool for adaptive and resource-efficient construction.
Anita Lin is an interdisciplinary designer specializing in bespoke assemblies and kit-of-parts systems. Her work focuses on prototyping complex material and mechanical systems through accessible and efficient fabrication methods, with an emphasis on responsive and deployable structures. She has a particular interest in soft robotics and pneumatic systems across various mediums, integrating performance with a distinct aesthetic sensibility.
Anita is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Architectural Studies (SMArchS) in Computation at MIT. Originally from New York, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from SUNY Buffalo and a Master of Science in Matter Design Computation (now Design Tech) from Cornell University. She worked as a project associate at the Jenny Sabin Lab, contributing to interdisciplinary research on building-integrated photovoltaics, including projects such as HelioSkin and the Agrivoltaic Pavilion.
Her professional experience spans landscape design-build, retail environments, public art, and material circularity. In addition to her design research, she is a co-lead of SoftMetrics, a venture supported by MITdesignX, developing a desktop device for textile measurement that enables accessible and reliable material data.