Jasper O’Leary

I am a PhD student in Human Centered Design and Engineering (HCDE). Previously, I earned my bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley. I study how digital fabrication technology can move beyond its focus on making trinket-scale objects for a universal “maker.” Instead, I imagine how we can leverage digital fabrication to build longer-lasting infrastructure such as urban installations and ad-hoc shelters. How can these tools could be useful in a diverse set of people and needs, rather than just appealing to one universal user? How can we build effectively at the body or building scale? What role do different materials play in this process? I approach these questions through a mix of research through design, ethnography, and system-building.

Website: jasperoleary.com