embodied interfaces & soft intelligence
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is a transdisciplinary designer, researcher, and dancer exploring how machines think and communicate through material skins. Her research centers on embodied interfaces, computational textiles, and responsive material systems that integrate sensing, haptics, and computation. She is a Master of Science in Design Computation (’27) candidate at MIT.
Her research draws on advanced fabrication methods including CNC machine knitting, robotic fabrication, and soft material systems to develop bi-directional interfaces. Through these systems, she reframes textiles and material assemblies as active participants in human–machine interaction, performance, and making.
ilkyazs[at]mit[dot]edu
cv
how the brain machine works (blog)
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Soft Intelligence: Embodied Mind[00] Sensing Device: Glove for AR Interaction
[01] Tactile Intelligence: Haptic Library / Textile Jukebox
[02] Performative Agency: Human Knitting
[03] Programmable Knitting: CNC Knitting
Situated Machines: Measurement Instruments
[04] Speed of Sound
[11] Spring Force Mechanics
Digital to Physical: Advanced Fabrication[05] Optimization for Digital Fabrication
[07] Machines of Making
Machine:[08] Perception
[09] Capturing
[10] Learning
Leftover Project[12] Retro-fitting
[13] The Alphabet Song
[14] Plotted Leftovers
Awards:
- MIT Architecture Department Fellow, 2025 Awarded fellowship by the MIT Department of Architecture
- Fulbright Scholarship, Master’s Grantee, 2023 - 2024 US Department of State Scholarship, Fulbright Turkiye
- University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture, Master of Science Research Fellow, 2023
- Rackham Graduate Student Research Grant, 2024
- ArtsEngine Student Research Grant, 2024
- ACADIA Student Scholarship, 2023
- Winning Competition Entry ‘Ulus 100th Year Bazaar” Project in Architecture, 2022
Teaching:Cultures of Form (Assistant Instructor), 2025
Project Leftovers Workshop (Instructor), 2023
Exhibition:ZAP! 2024, Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Duderstadt Gallery + Video Studio (artist)
Architecture is Art 2023, Ankara, CerModern (exhibition assistant)
Publication:Sarimehmetoglu, I., Qiu, J., Thaprawat, P., Zhou, G., Valikodath, N., Draelos, M., & Alves-Oliveira, P. (2025, July). Robot characters for innovative medical eye exams in kids. In Proceedings of the Designing Interactive Systems Conference. ACM. https://doi.org/10.1145/3715336.3735445
Sarimehmetoglu, I., & Özcan, Z. (2025). ZAP!: Bio-Inspired Large-Scale Multimedia Installation. In Proceedings of the International Computer Music Conference (ICMC 2025) (pp. 90–95). International Computer Music Association.
Schiesser, A., Şimşek, D., Sarımehmetoğlu, İ., & Esendemir, G. (2018). Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of methylglyoxal – The major antibacterial component of Manuka honey. Mellifera, 18, 1–6. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/mellifera/issue/41786/504450