Skip to content

Emilie El Chidiac | Design Technologist

I build tools in Rhino, Grasshopper and code that score how a space works on the people inside it: LLM agents, and the evals that catch them. AI-assisted, of course. The judgment about what they get wrong is mine.

EDUCATION

Master in Advanced Computational Design for Architecture (MaCAD) II · IAAC, Barcelona · Sep 2025 - Dec 2026

MaCAD Awards 2026 winner. IAAC Women in Tech scholarship.

  • Sensi, an agentic LLM copilot scoring a plan by six senses. Led a team of four; built the agent, evals, UI and deploy.
  • The Lungs, the platform a three-team studio ran on for ten weeks. Collaborating in a data team of three, built its UX, timelines for management and cross-team clash detection, KPI map, stress-test game and tour, on PostgreSQL.
  • lEgoarCh, a live GenAI pipeline from text prompt to brick sets verified buildable. Built the brick solver and interface.
  • NeuroSpace, a live lab scoring how a room works on you. Solo, with Claude Code: force-density form-finding.

Bachelor of Architecture (NAAB & NASAD accredited) · Lebanese American University, Byblos · Sep 2018 - Jun 2023

Dean's Distinction List. Honor scholarship all consecutive terms.

  • The Homage, bachelor thesis: an adaptive reuse of Oscar Niemeyer's unfinished Rachid Karami Fair in Tripoli.
  • Licensed architect, Order of Engineers and Architects of Beirut, issued Mar 2024.

EXPERIENCE

Design Technologist · Dynamic Solution Co., Kuwait · Aug 2024 - Present

  • Tideline, 60 mirrored fins hiding a Lincoln: geometry-driven definition, 62 nested parts, simplified in VR to cut cost.
  • Codependent, a DfMA kit, designed for manufacturing: 39 CNC-cut panels, 48 slot joints, 30 options to 1, part IDs.
  • Lead parametric design and modelling in Grasshopper and Kangaroo: form-finding simulation, digital fabrication.
  • Build AI-augmented workflows for visual communication (visualisation, video); take ownership of the quality bar.
  • Develop software prototypes (event apps, brand games, VR) in React, Three.js, Unity and Unreal, user-tested on site.
  • Bridge design and engineering: problem-solving, strategy studies, R&D presentations to clients and stakeholders.

Design Architect · SOMA, Beirut (hybrid) · Aug 2023 - Jul 2024

  • Verve City Walk, District O, Enara, Saria: led facade geometry and massing on four towers in Rhino and Grasshopper.
  • Delivered those studies in the Revit BIM model at LOD 300: drawings, interiors, masterplan, construction documents.

Computational Designer · Self-employed · Jan 2022 - Present

  • Pen Table, this portfolio's design system: documented standards, one maintained token set for site, book and cards.
  • Ongoing research in neuroarchitecture, AI ethics and emerging tech trends: essays, diagrams and tools.

Architectural Designer · Jemma Chidiac Architects, Beirut · Jan 2022 - Aug 2022

  • The Encounter, an Anfeh cemetery in planted tomb terraces: concept support, landscape and tomb details. Finalist.
  • Falcon Square, an Al Khobar monument: takeoff lines mirrored into a steel falcon; led the early-stage concept.

SKILLS

AI workflows: LLM agents (LangGraph) · machine learning · evals and benchmarking · GenAI pipelines (LoRA fine-tuning · FLUX · ComfyUI · ControlNet) · Weights & Biases · cloud AI inference · rapid prototyping · design automation
Architectural geometry and BIM: Rhino · Grasshopper (node-based programming, low-code, Python scripting) · Kangaroo · Rhino Compute · Rhino.Inside · Revit (LOD 300) · Speckle · CAD/CAM · Adobe Creative Suite · 3D printing
Ships with: Python · JavaScript · TypeScript · HTML · CSS · React · Vue · FastAPI · REST APIs · MCP · PostgreSQL · Docker · Cloud Run · pytest · Three.js · WebGL
Domain: design technology · built environment · product development · artificial intelligence · human-centred design · neuroscience for architecture · evidence-based design · occupant wellbeing · research design · demo and narrative
Languages: Arabic (native) · English (advanced) · French (advanced)

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

  • 2026MaCAD Awards at IAAC, Design Copilots category winner: Sensi. Shown in the IAAC annual exhibition
  • 2026Jury and studio awards at IAAC: lEgoarCh, The Lungs, The Huddle
  • 2025IAAC Global Summer School, Circular Construction: Shifting Value, Barcelona
  • 2024Volume Zero Marsception: Top 50, with Charles Abi Chahine (Rings of Mars: Ring 4000)
  • 2023Tamayouz Excellence Award: Top 100 graduation projects of 2023, from 422 entries (The Homage)
  • 2022Ctrl Act Design, The Cemetery Challenge: shortlisted finalist (The Encounter)

WRITING & RESEARCH

20 essays at emiliechidiac.com/thoughts · 12 project write-ups on blog.iaac.net (opens in new tab) · MaCAD Theory Podcast, co-hosted with Charles Abi Chahine: Optimizing for the Mind, with Dr. Cleo Valentine