i am a graduate-student at the interactive-telecommunications-programme at new-york university, on a near-full scholarship. here, i spend most of my time exploring the artistic potential of code & electricity. all work (being done) is documented on this frequently-updated weblog.
currently, i'm in the middle of summer-break; but am trying to treat these 4-months just like a semester. during the week, i am a recurser at the recurse-center, as part of a selective programming-retreat. here, i work on programming-projects & research, while being surrounded by programmers far more talented than me. on weekends, i work at the itp-fabrication & electronics shop, helping summer-campers & other students with their projects. i also try to climb as often as i can; play the piano; and enjoy the sun after that dreadful winter.
i grew up all across india, moving with / between my parents, and studying in seven different schools. i was athletic & curious, and aspired to become a professional athlete.
when that didn't pan out, i pivoted to design, and studied communication-design at iiad, delhi. my professors moved me, and i became naively inspired by the idea of using design to change the world. work also introduced me to the artistic potential of programming, and i used it as a gateway into interdisciplinary work. i worked with science-gallery-bengaluru in my final year — programming a web-game and exploring citizen-science.
after graduating, i worked as a design-researcher for 2+ years — at tinkerlabs and treemouse — in their social-impact practices. disillusioned by the industry, i resigned to grow my own practice, and did design-research, product-design, creative-coding, and taught design in undergraduate & postgraduate programs.
i'm best reached via email at ay3020[at]nyu[dot]edu, or arjunmakesthings[at]gmail[dot]com. i also own a linkedin account, that i seldom use. i am not on any other social-media platforms.