Maël Hénaff is a French artist, designer and music producer based in London. His practice investigates emerging technologies through cultural, social and ethical lenses, exploring how design, music, film and technology can be used to imagine alternative futures.

He is currently Course Leader of MA Material Futures at Central Saint Martins, where he leads a research-driven programme exploring speculative design, material innovation, regenerative practices and the social impact of emerging technologies. Alongside his academic work, Maël develops installations, sound-based projects and collaborative research that examine how technologies can be hacked, democratised and reimagined through creative practice.

Over the course of his career, he has collaborated with studios, institutions and partners including Superflux, UP Projects, Teenage Engineering, Nothing and Dropcity. His work and research have been presented at the Design Museum London, Tate Exchange at Tate Modern, Milan Design Week and Dubai Design Week.

Through his exploratory practice, Maël creates speculative scenarios that question dominant technological narratives and propose more accessible, poetic and collective ways of engaging with the future.

EXHIBITIONS/RESEARCH PROJECTS


︎︎︎2023 

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Social Fibre
^{Future Observatory
Design Museum, London}


Sea Money Maker
^{London Design Biennale, London}


︎︎︎2022 

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Sea Money Maker
^{Aram Gallery, London}

Future Robots
^{DeepMind, Lethaby Gallery London}


︎︎︎2019 

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Democratising Technology
^{Dubai Design Week, Dubai}

Democratising Technology
^{Lethaby Gallery, London}

Deep Fake for Social Good
^{Tate Exchange, London}

Democratising Technology
^{Degree Show CSM, London}

Democratising Technology
^{DROPOUT MAG, London}

A Call For Positive Automation
^{Milan Design Week, Milan}


︎︎︎2018 

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AI DEMOCRACY
^{Design Museum, London}

Symbiotic System
^{Primer Design Futures,
San Fransisco}

How to Become a Machine
^{Primer Design Futures,
San Fransisco}

TALKS/WORKSHOPS


︎︎︎2024 

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AI Cannibalism
^{AllFlows 2024, Milton Keynes}

Bio Fabrique Vienna
^{Klima Biennale Wien, Vienna}

︎︎︎2022 

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Radio BlahBlah
^{STORE PROJECTS, London}


︎︎︎2019 

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Designing For Turbulent Times
^{Everyman Cinema, London}

KQ LABS Sciences and Design
^{LVMH, London}

Waste into Resource Workshop
^{Messums, Wiltshire}


 ︎︎︎2018 

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Tech for the community Workshop
^{Local Church, Jaywick}

Symbiotic System
^{Primer Design Futures, San Fransisco}

How to Become a Machine
^{Primer Design Futures, San Fransisco}


RESIDENCIES


︎︎︎2019 

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Otherwise Festivale
^{Gessnerallee, Zurich}

PUBLICATIONS


︎︎︎2019 

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Socio-technology: realising the social potential of emerging technologies
^{Material Futures Catalogue}

On how technology will make us the humans we always wanted to be
^{Clot Magazine}

LS:N Global: 4 Key themes from Milan Design Week 2019
^{LSN Global Future Laboratory}


AWARDS

︎︎︎2019 

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Finalist NOVA AWARDS
^{London, UK}

Finalist Green TRAIL LVMH
^{London, UK}