At the Unstable Design Lab we interweave anthropology, art, design, and engineering to imagine the future of human-technology relationships. Specifically, we explore how instability, the idea that technology may challenge humans, or not work as humans expect, is a quality we should embrace in design in order to live more humanely, creatively, and sustainably with technology. The Unstable Design Lab is directed by Laura Devendorf and is currently accepting research students. For inquiries, email unstabledesignlab@gmail.com.

Unstable Design Lab website

 

Lab Director

Laura Devendorf
Laura Devendorf
Assistant Professor • Unstable Design Lab • SMART TEXTILES, HCI, DESIGN RESEARCH

Associated Researchers

Andrea Chamorro
Andrea Chamorro
Undergraduate Student
Computer Science
Chad Di Lauro
Chad Di Lauro
Undergraduate Student
electrical and computer engineering
Mikhaila Friske
Mikhaila Friske
PhD Student
Information Science
Jolie Klefeker
Jolie Klefeker
Undergraduate Student
ATLAS Institute
Jennifer Mah
Jennifer Mah
Undergraduate Student
ATLAS Institute
Shanel Wu
Shanel Wu
PhD Student
ATLAS Institute

In the news

Laura Devendorf
Digital loom arrives in Unstable Design Lab

Oct. 10, 2018

The custom-made TC2 Digital Jacquard loom–all 1,000 pounds of it–has arrived and is now assembled in Assistant Professor Laura Devendorf 's Unstable Design Lab . First projects will focus on just learning to use it, Devendorf says, but after that she plans to utilize more complex fabrics with integrated sensing...

Laura Devendorf
We're all chameleons now

Sept. 25, 2018

Laura Devendorf has a ready answer for how she spent the summer: The CU Boulder information scientist taught herself how to weave, an experience equal parts relaxing and infuriating — “like brushing doll hair forever,” she said.

Jolie Klefeker
TAM junior chosen as Grace Hopper Research Scholar
Jolie Klefeker was chosen as a Grace Hopper Research Scholar, a national program that aims to increase the number of undergraduate women with an interest in computing research.

Laura Devendorf stands in her Unstable Design Lab.
Weaving smart textiles

June 12, 2018

Assistant Professor Laura Devendorf researches smart textiles, one of the most promising and least explored frontiers for information technology.

Mushroom
Wearable technology brings high-tech to mushroom hunting

May 9, 2018

Assistant Professor Laura Devendorf and Jen Liu, ATLAS doctoral student, co-authored a new study that brings wearable technology to one of humanity's oldest pursuits.

Laura Devendorf
When unstable technology is a good thing

March 1, 2017

Assistant professor Laura Devendorf uses the instability of everyday life as a design resource in her Unstable Design Lab.