About Me
I'm an independent researcher, educator, and technology-builder.
I believe technology has world-changing potential when it's built with intention and empathy. This philosophy hasn't changed since my first startup where we designed around what students wanted to build, not what tech companies were saying they needed from future workers.
Winner of the James Dyson Award, Prototypes for Humanity.
Previously
MIT
2021-2024Dual Master's in Computer Science and Human-centered Design. Research focused on creative generative AI for 3D models and ML × HCI applications.
Vidcode Co-founder & CPO
2014-2021Built a creative coding platform and computer science curriculum used by over 10 million students globally. Went through Y Combinator, raised $1.5M, and successfully exited. Featured in Forbes 30 Under 30.
Teaching
I've taught classes and workshops on technology + creativity all around the world: a Makerspace in Sri Lanka during a political crisis, a school in a Township outside of Cape Town, a pop-up structure by the Salton Sea, and guided high school startup teams made up of Israelis and Palestinians in Jerusalem during wartime.
Teaching in Uruguay
Paysandu School Workshop
School in Uruguay
Global Education Initiative
Mars, California
Desert Workshop
Cyber Arts Camp
2021Co-founded between the Vidcode acquisition and MIT. Taught 100 students in bioengineering and cybersecurity that first summer. Still going strong.
"One of my favorite new startups" - Megan Smith, former CTO of the United States
Sundai Club
2024The largest AI hacker club in Boston. Co-founded in my last semester at MIT, now an active non-profit with hundreds of hackers taking part. Featured in WIRED.
Papers
MechStyle: Augmenting Generative AI with Mechanical Simulation to Create Stylized and Structurally Viable 3D Models
SCF '25
Faraz Faruqi, Amira Abdel-Rahman, Leandra Tejedor, Martin Nisser, Jiaji Li, Vrushank Phadnis, Varun Jampani, Neil Gershenfeld, Megan Hofmann, Stefanie Mueller
Style2Fab: Functionality-Aware Segmentation for Fabricating Personalized 3D Models with Generative AI
UIST '23
Faraz Faruqi, Ahmed Katary, Tarik Hasic, Amira Abdel-Rahman, Nayeemur Rahman, Leandra Tejedor, Mackenzie Leake, Megan Hofmann, Stefanie Mueller
SAP-sLDA: An Interpretable Interface for Exploring Unstructured Text
Acknowledged contributor
Contributed initial work on the project including dataset collection and data preprocessing techniques.
Featured Podcasts
Beyond traditional tech work, I explore the intersection of creativity and technology through live coding performances, generative art, and experimental interfaces. This creative practice informs my approach to building more human-centered systems.
Recently exhibited at CVPR 2025 Art Gallery with "The Meaning of Mirror" - a self-portrait exploring generative AI through meaningful visual grammar.
