Dylan Mulder is an award-winning industrial designer, lecturer, consultant, and digital fabrication expert whose work encompasses product design, feature films, and wearable technology. Mulder will give a talk titled “Weaving Heritage and High Tech: From Wearables to Movie Magic” for the UC Davis Department of Design’s Alberini Family Speaker Series in Design.

The event is May 15 at 4:30-6 p.m. with a reception to follow at the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art. The talk is free and open to the public. In addition, the presentation will be livestreamed. 

This talk explores the intersection of cultural heritage, cutting-edge technology, and sustainable design through the lens of Mulder’s award-winning work. Drawing from his Ngāti Maniapoto roots and global experiences, Dylan shares how he integrates indigenous wisdom with modern innovations like generative AI and reactive diffusion. Highlighting key projects, including wearable art and digital fabrication, the talk inspires people to embrace inclusivity, push creative boundaries, and envision a future where design bridges culture, science, and technology.

Mulder’s experience includes projects with prestigious companies such as Weta Workshop, Cirque Du Soleil, Netflix, Air New Zealand, and Soul Machines Ltd. and he has created iconic costume pieces for high-profile clients such as Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, and Jacinda Ardern. By drawing from his Dutch and Māori heritage, he creates artwork that resonates on both personal and universal levels connecting people from all walks of life, regardless of cultural background, indigenous roots, or socioeconomic status.

Supported through an endowment provided by the Carlos and Andrea Alberini Family Foundation, the speaker series brings renowned innovators and thinkers in design to campus to inspire students and encourage community engagement and learning. The talk is organized by the UC Davis Department of Design and co-sponsored by the Manetti Shrem Museum.

The Department of Design is part of the College of Letters and Science at UC Davis.