Eldy S. Lázaro Vásquez received the Savageau Award at the Arts & Humanities 2020 Graduate Exhibition Virtual Opening Celebration. Eldy, whose work and research are at the intersection of bio-design, Human-Computer Interaction, and wearable technology, is the second recipient of the Savageau Award which is granted to a graduating MFA candidate. 

A Peruvian native, Vásquez is researching the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), personal fabrication and biology. She has a Bachelors in Architecture and Urbanism and practiced architecture in Peru for several years before moving to the United States. Her passion for exploring technological applications in architectural design led her to discover relevant digital fabrication techniques applied in that field. Vásquez has a strong passion for arts and design as a way of emotional expression. Her current work combines digital fabrication, programming and bio-design applications, ranging from the exploration of new materials as design elements for personal fabrication to soft-robotic principles applied in wearable technology and interactive objects.

Vásquez is passionate about education and effective ways to engage students in active learning and has been organizing workshops with designers, artists and elementary school students around the world on 3D printing in textiles, interactive objects and bio-based materials applications. She is an active member of the maker community and FabLat Kids program.

The Savageau Award is aimed at furthering the career of a graduating M.F.A. design student and to encourage, recognize and celebrate creative and original contributions to the discipline of design. It is named for Ann Savageau, a professor in the design department from 2007 to 2014. 

View more of Eldy’s work in her final exhibition in the Arts & Humanities 2020 Graduate Exhibition.