portrait of a woman in a red dress against blue background, bending over a table with sensors from a design research project

Anna Blumenkranz is a designer, researcher, and educator based in Munich, specializing in wearable technology and electronic textiles. With a keen interest in critical design, and the intersection of art, design, technology, and society, her work explores how these fields converge to shape our everyday lives. Currently pursuing a PhD at the faculty for AI and Human Interfaces at the University of Salzburg, Anna is researching electronic textiles as a design material for slowing down in design practice and workshops. She is also involved in the research project  Diversity Computing Spaces, which focuses on fostering diversity in school spaces with interactive technologies.

Since 2011, Anna has lectured at various universities: LMU Munich, HSA Augsburg, HfG Schwäbisch Gmünd, etc. In addition to her academic and artistic pursuits, Anna has design research experience in developing soft, interactive interfaces in the field of social design with international collaborators. Her projects have received prestigious EU grants, including the WEAR Sustain grant (2018) and the WORTH Partnership Project (2020).

With extensive experience in conceptualizing and leading design workshops on wearables and creative technologies, Anna has worked with both adults and children to inspire hands-on learning. In 2016, she created the DIY e-textile kit “Glow-Bots: Nähen mit LEDs” with KOSMOS Publishing, and in 2017, her book “Wearables für Maker” was published by Franzis Verlag.

She is a frequent speaker at conferences, festivals, and research institutions, and her work is exhibited internationally. Throughout her career, Anna has collaborated with renowned institutions, including the Victoria & Albert Museum and Chelsea College of Arts in London, transmediale in Berlin, Ars Electronica in Linz, The New Institute in Rotterdam, and Munich’s Museum Brandhorst, Stadtmuseum, and Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, to name a few.

CV

EDUCATION:
2022-present: Doctoral candidate in AI and Human Interfaces, University of Salzburg, Austria
Thesis Topic: “Crafting with electronic textiles as a design material for slowing down” – about inherent temporalities of craft materials and processes in design workshops.

2011-2012: MA Interactive Media (distinction), Goldsmiths College, University of London, UK

2007-2010: BA Arts & Multimedia (distinction), minor subject: Media Computer Science, LMU Munich, GER
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POSITIONS:
RESEARCHER:

2021-present: at the Center for Human-Computer Interaction, University of Salzburg, Austria. Research project: Diversity Computing Spaces as part of the research team around Prof. Dr. Christopher Frauenberger

2020-2021: Researcher & E-textile Designer for EU-awarded project “Vibro-Tactile: therapeutic interactive textiles for people suffering from anxieties, altzheimer and stroke patients.” (WORTH partnership project) In collaboration with UK-based Annie Lywood and France-based Maurin Donneaud.

+ textile research & design for soothing, engaging & therapeutic needs
+ user needs and user experience
+ incorporation of hard electronics into soft interfaces, interplay of vibration and tactile textures.

2017-2018: Project Co-Coordinator and E-Textile Researcher and Designer for EU-awarded project “FlexAbility – an E-textile Interface Kit for People with Physical Disabilities” (WEAR Sustain program) Developed in collaboration with California-based Lara Grant and Adrian Freed.

+ Project management and administration
+ Managed project budgeting and accounting
+ Conducted user research, rapid prototyping and testing at Pfennigparade
+ Supervised and produced video documentation

 

LECTURER:

  • SS 25: Lehrauftrag, Contextual Design Analysis, MA Human-Computer Interaction, Universität Salzburg.
  • SS 25: Lehrauftrag, Contextual Interaction Design, MA Human-Computer Interaction, Universität Salzburg.
  • WS 24/25: Lehrauftrag, Human-Computer Interaction: Vorlesung und Übung für Studiengänge BA Informatik, AI, EBG und DIG, Universität Salzburg.
  • SS 21: Lehrauftrag, Studiengang Interaktive Medien, Fakultät Gestaltung, Hochschule Augsburg.
  • WS 2020/21: Lehrauftrag, Studiengang BA Interaktive Medien, Fakultät Gestaltung, Hochschule Augsburg.
  • SS 2020: Lehrauftrag, Studiengang BA Interaktive Medien, Fakultät Gestaltung, Hochschule Augsburg.
  • SS 2019: Sommerakademie, Hochschule für Design und Gestaltung, Schwäbisch Gmünd
  • WS 2016-17: Lehrauftrag, Studiengang BA Kunst & Multimedia, LMU München.
  • SS 2016: Lehrauftrag, Fakultät Theater- und Musikwissenschaften, LMU München.
  • WS 2015-16: Lehrauftrag, Studiengang BA Kunst & Multimedia, LMU München.
  • WS 2014-15: Lehrauftrag, Studiengang BA Kunst & Multimedia, LMU München.
  • WS 2013-14: Lehrauftrag, Studiengang BA Kunst & Multimedia, LMU München.
  • WS 2012-13: Lehrauftrag, Studiengang BA Kunst & Multimedia, LMU München.
  • SS 2011: Lehrauftrag, Studiengang BA Kunst & Multimedia, LMU München.
  • WS 2010-11: Tutorium, Studiengang BA Kunst & Multimedia, LMU München.
  • SS 2010: Tutorium Multimedia Programmierung, Fakultät Medieninformatik, LMU München.

+ developed a variety of seminars on Wearable Technology and Computational Crafts, e.g. STEAM concepts for school children, designing social wearables for people with special needs, etc.

+ cooperated with SPIELKultur e.V. educators working with children and young adults, OSA – critical media art collective from London, Marta Kisand – automotive e-textile designer, Milbertshofen cultural centre, Gärtner Platz, etc.

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2015-2017: Educational writer / Designer / Concept developer for publishing houses

+ conceptualised and written the book „Wearables for Makers“ – an introduction to wearables. produced photographs, illustrations and graphics, and set the book layout.

+ interviewed leading e-textile practitioners to include in the book. Published by Franzis Verlag in May 2017. (Full-length interviews published in my blog)

+ developed an e-textile kit „Glow-Bot: Sewing with LEDs“, published by KOSMOS Verlag. Co- designed and written the manual, product design and material sourcing

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2012-present: Self-employed Workshop Producer and Educator in Wearables and Creative Technology

+ concept and delivery for different partners, venues and audiences. Past collaborations include: V&A Museum London, Bayerisches Nationalmuseum Munich, University St. Gallen Switzerland, Galeries Lothringer13 and PLATFORM, Make Munich maker fair, etc.

+ long-year cooperation with local media paedagogical organisations, such as SIN-Studio im Netz, JFF Institut, SPIELKultur e.V., FabLab München, KJR, Bundeszentrale für Polische Bildung, etc.

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PRESS:

+ Interview for Feierwerk: Wenn Kinder zu Makern werden, 2018
+ Interview for Institute of Art and Ideas: Germany issue of “Technology and Creativity” – New Renaissance Pioneer, 2018
+ Interview for radio BR2: Social use of Wearables, 2017
+ Interview for TV BR1: “Die Makerinnen”, studio visit and during workshop at Make Munich, 2016
+ Interview for “Junge Leute”, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, 2014
+ Interview for BR2 on the project “100 Word Pilgrimage”
+ Blogs: Mucbook, Arts in Munich, Munich Artists