{"id":7,"date":"2013-07-19T16:58:20","date_gmt":"2013-07-19T16:58:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.annablumenkranz.de\/?page_id=7"},"modified":"2026-07-17T13:31:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T13:31:16","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/annablumenkranz.de\/?page_id=7","title":{"rendered":"ABOUT"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"portrait<\/a><\/p>\n

Anna Blumenkranz is a designer, researcher, and educator based in Munich, specialising in wearable technology and electronic textiles<\/strong>. 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<\/strong>, Anna is researching electronic textiles as a design material for slowing down in design practice and workshops<\/a>. She is also involved in the research project\u00a0 Diversity Computing Spaces, <\/a>which focuses on fostering diversity in school spaces with interactive technologies.<\/p>\n

Since 2011, Anna has lectured at various universities: University of Salzburg, LMU Munich, HSA Augsburg, HfG Schw\u00e4bisch Gm\u00fcnd, etc. In addition to her academic and artistic pursuits, Anna has design research experience in developing soft, interactive interfaces<\/strong> in the field of social design<\/strong> with international collaborators. Her projects have received prestigious EU grants, including the WEAR Sustain grant (2018) and the WORTH Partnership Project (2020).<\/p>\n

With extensive experience in conceptualising 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: N\u00e4hen mit LEDs” with KOSMOS Publishing, and in 2017, her book “Wearables f\u00fcr Maker”<\/em> was published by Franzis Verlag.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

CV<\/strong><\/p>\n

EDUCATION:
<\/strong>2022-present:<\/em> 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.
<\/strong><\/p>\n

2011-2012:<\/em> MA Interactive Media (distinction), Goldsmiths College, University of London, UK<\/p>\n

2007-2010:<\/em> BA Arts & Multimedia (distinction), minor subject: Media Computer Science, LMU Munich, GER
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POSITIONS:
<\/strong>DESIGN RESEARCHER:<\/strong><\/p>\n

2021-present:<\/em> at the Center for Human-Computer Interaction, University of Salzburg, Austria. <\/strong>Research project: Diversity Computing Spaces <\/strong>as part of the research team around Prof. Dr. Christopher Frauenberger<\/p>\n

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

+ 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.<\/em><\/p>\n

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

+ Project management and administration<\/em>
+ Managed project budgeting and accounting<\/em>
+ Conducted user research, rapid prototyping and testing at Pfennigparade<\/em>
+ Supervised and produced video documentation<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

LECTURER:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n