The Critical Matter Group at the MIT Media Lab will be accepting 2 new Master’s students for the 2027 academic year.
In the Critical Matter group, we work across various scales, from wearable technology and fashion to architecture and public art. Our focus lies at the intersection of design, technology, and critical inquiry, challenging traditional boundaries and exploring innovative approaches that blend creative expression with cutting-edge technology. We aim to create impactful work that addresses societal challenges.
Our work engages three interconnected areas:
Social: Exploring identity, culture, participation, feminism, collective experience, and the social implications of emerging technologies in design.
Psychological: Investigating how design can engage emotion, perception, embodiment, cognition, and mindfulness, and shape relationships between bodies, minds, technologies, and environments.
Material: Developing new forms of material intelligence, responsive and adaptive systems, robotic fabrication, bio-derived materials, wearables, and computational approaches to design and making.
We’re seeking applicants who:
- Are interested in working across one or more of these social, psychological, and material dimensions through design and technological experimentation.
- Bring curiosity about psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, philosophy of mind, critical theory, or related ways of understanding human experience.
- Are excited to translate ideas into experiments and prototypes through areas such as robotic fabrication, fashion and wearable technology, AI, computational design, and emerging materials. Expertise in all of these areas is not expected.
- Can connect technical experimentation with larger critical, cultural, or societal questions.
- Communicate ideas clearly, are open to feedback, and are comfortable allowing their research to evolve.
Special Requirements:
A portfolio of creative work is required with your application.
Open House:
MAS Open House
We will host a one-hour Open House in October 2026. Please check this page for the exact date. It will be a great opportunity to learn more about our work and ask questions.
In the meantime, we highly recommend watching the recording of our previous Open House to learn more about the Critical Matter Group and our research. You can find the recording here: Open House Recording
Learn about applying through the Program in Media Arts & Sciences.