About
Skylar Tibbits is a designer, computer scientist, and Associate Professor of Design Research in MIT's Department of Architecture. He is the founder and co-director of the MIT Self-Assembly Lab, a multidisciplinary research hub integrating design, fabrication, computer science, and robotics. Tibbits coined the term '4D printing' to describe materials programmed to adapt and self-transform over time in response to environmental stimuli. His pioneering research investigates active matter, programmable textiles, and autonomous assembly across varied scales. Beyond the lab, he directs MIT's undergraduate Design programs and leads SJET LLC, a research-based practice.