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Lab Updates and Events

Were Recruiting PhD Students

Full details: https://unstable.design/work/phd/

Interested in doing a PhD with the Unstable Design Lab? We have new opportunities for doctoral researchers interested in: developing computer-aided design and computational design systems for woven textiles; Researching documentation formats and interactive instructional guides for human-machine collaboration; Open-source community and governance structures with a focus on bridging craft and computing communities; and Research and development of woven structures and prototypes that integrate electronics and/or biomaterials. Full details for potential applicants, including funding support, application deadlines and avenues are at: https://unstable.design/work/phd/

Interested applicants should fully read the linked call and apply by December 15, 2026 for a start date in August 2027. While we cannot meet with every potential applicant, we encourage prospective applicants to fill out our inquiry form (linked from the url above) to let us know to look out for their application. 

AdaCAD Community Manager Position Available

Full Details: https://unstable.design/work/community_manager/

We’re looking for a full-time community manager who can help us develop and deploy strategies to engage the “experimental weaving” community that is growing around, but also beyond, the AdaCAD open source software project. Our ideal candidate would have experience participating in and/or managing open-source outreach, a respect for and/or active craft practice; and comfort working collaboratively with our project team (and broader university infrastructure). This 18-month position can be remote or in person and can range from 30-40 hours per week. Hiring will take place through the CU Boulder University hiring platform and we have included some additional information about the community at https://unstable.design/work/community_manager/

Coming Soon: Experimental Weaving Residency, “Alongside”

We are excited to bring back our  Experimental Weaving Residency in 2027-2028, with funding to support six residents! Our residency theme is “alongside” and residents will be hosted in pairs for sessions in Fall 2027, Spring 2028, and Fall 2028. The full call and application will be announced soon on our website: https://unstable.design/work/

Conferences, Talks, and Exhibitions

SECAC 2026

Etta Sandry and Steven Frost will represent the Unstable Design Lab at SECAC 2026 in Winston Salem, NC (Oct 21 - 24)

Etta Sandry will present some of her dissertation research on craft sample making as experimental praxis during the session Crafting Technological Futures on Thursday, October 22. 

Steven Frost will present “Textiles as Method: Interdisciplinary Material Research in the Unstable Design Lab” on October 24. The talk highlights the lab’s use of weaving as a method for interdisciplinary research across art, design, engineering, and the humanities.

Open Source Arts Contributors Conference

Deanna will represent AdaCAD and the Unstable Design Lab at Open Source Arts Contributor’s Conference (OSACC) at The Ohio State University from October 22-24. OSACC’s goal is to support contribution to open source in the arts.
https://opensourceart.cc/ 

Deanna Gelosi at UIST

Deanna Gelosi will present research in collaboration with Accenture Labs at the ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (UIST 2026) in Detroit, Michigan from November 2–5. The poster will present CompactPack: From 3D Objects to Fabricable Packaging Inserts.

Laura Devendorf at IEEE E-Textiles Conference

Laura Devendorf will share the lab’s research and active projects in a Keynote Address at the IEEE e-textiles conference. While the conference will take place in the Czech Republic Nov 24-26, Laura will be delivering the presentation virtually.
https://e-textilesconference.com/speakers-2026/

Colorado Currents at MCA Denver

Steven Frost’s work is currently on view in Colorado Currents at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver. The exhibition includes Frost’s Mile High Pride Flag The exhibition remains on view through November 15, 2026.

Lab Member News

Welcome Gabrielle & Charlotte!

We’re excited to welcome undergraduate researchers Gabrielle Partch and Charlotte Bertanzetti to the Unstable Design Lab!

Gabrielle is a senior Computer Science and Creative Technology & Design double major developing an AdaCAD operation applying cellular automata to weave drafting.

Charlotte is returning for her second semester with the lab! She is a sophomore Computer Science major working with Deanna and Etta on the NEST Graduate Research Fellowship.

Katerina Houser

Katerina is working as a Lab Assistant, supporting loom maintenance, troubleshooting, and student assistance for the Experimental Textiles class. She also organizes and documents the Experimental Textiles class archive, preserving student work and project records. Additionally, she helps maintain the TC2 digital Jacquard loom, ensuring the equipment is ready for use. 

Coming Up

Keep an eye out for more news about our upcoming Experimental Weaving Talk Series, artist residencies, new research opportunities, and events at the lab.