Art Bio

Maggie Orth is an artist, writer, and technologist who creates electronic textiles and interactive art at her studio, in Seattle WA. Maggie's artworks include textiles that change-color under computer control, interactive textile sensor and light artworks, and robotic public art.

Maggie developed her interactive art and design works in the context of her company, International Fashion Machines, Inc. (IFM), where she focused on developing the creative, technical, and commercial aspects of electronic textiles. At IFM, Maggie wrote patents, conducted research, and developed her own technology and design products, including the PomPom Dimmer.

In 2007, Maggie was named a USA Target Fellow by United States Artists, and received one of 50 unrestricted grants of $50,000 in recognition of her artistic work. Her art and design has been exhibited at the Museum of Science, Boston MA; NTT ICC, InterCommuncication Center, Japan; The National Textile Museum, Washington DC; The Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; The DeCordova Museum, MA; SIGGRAPH; Ars Electronica, Linz, Austria; Bumbershoot, Seattle WA; Zero 1, San Jose CA; MUDAC, The Museum de Design D’Arts Contemporains, Lausanne, Switzerland; The City of San Jose Public Art Program, San Jose, CA.

Maggie holds a PhD in Media Arts and Sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Media Lab. She also earned a Masters of Science from MIT's Center for Advanced Visual Studies, and a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design. She has completed two certificates in non-fiction and fiction writing at the University of Washington.

Maggie Orth’s work has been featured in numerous books and publications including: Time Magazine; Wired; ID Magazine; Craft; The Seattle Time; Boston Globe; Art and Science Now by Steven Wilson; Warp and Weft by Jessica Hemmings; and International Design Yearbook, 2007.

Maggie also writes and conducts research on sustainability, design, and technology. Her writing has been included in: The Digital Turn, Design in the Era of Interactive Technologies, by Zane Bernina; and Textile Messages, Dispatches from the World of E-Textiles and Education, by Leah Buechley.

Innovation Bio

Maggie Orth believes we cannot solve the complex problems facing today’s world without innovation, collaboration, and interdisciplinary thinking. Towards that end, Maggie provides innovation consulting and coaching to corporate clients with a focus on collaboration, synthetic thinking, technology and/or sustainability. Maggie enjoys and is skilled at working with people from many disciplines, and bringing together their expertise to solve complex problems and innovate.

Maggie is an interdisciplinary thinker with 15 years of experience in innovation, technology research, design, and entrepreneurship. Her expertise includes: sustainability, technology, design-thinking, interface design, usability, product development and design, entrepreneurship, brain-storming, standards, intellectual property, wearable computing, storytelling, and verbal communication. Maggie holds patents, has developed her own innovative UL-listed products, conducted research for DARPA, and worked with companies to develop wearable and technology products.

After receiving a PhD from the MIT Media Lab in 2002, Maggie went on to found her own company, (IFM) International Fashion Machines, Inc., where she focused on the development of electronic textiles and wearable technology. At IFM, Orth wrote patents, developed her own technology and design products, and worked with a range of corporate clients including Dupont and the NorthFace.

Maggie’s PhD research at the MIT Media Lab (1997-2001) included patents, technology research, publications, new physical interfaces, wearables, electronic textiles, and interactive textile musical instruments. Prior to her academic work at the Media Lab, Orth was the Production Director and Designer of Tod Machover's interactive musical production, Brain Opera.

Maggie holds a PhD in Media Arts and Sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Media Lab. She also earned a Masters of Science from MIT's Center for Advanced Visual Studies, and a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design. She has completed two certificates in non-fiction and fiction writing at the University of Washington.