GRI.D is the R&D page of Danny Griffin, an ongoing investigation into bottom-up methods of assembly.

Danny Griffin is an architectural designer with a background in construction automation. He seeks to understand every aspect of the labor behind complex assemblies, from mechanical actions to social dynamics. By incorporating hardware prototyping and software development into his architectural proposals, he aims to equip designers with tools to ensure manual actions do not become lost in the shift toward ever more high-tech building systems.

Summer 2018, GT Digital Fabrication Lab

Education

Aug. 2023 - present
Aug. 2018 -May 2022

Aug. 2014 - May 2018

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

SM.ArchS Degree Candidate
M. Arch ‘22

Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA

BS. Arch ‘18

Skills

Architecture
Fabrication
Graphics

Rhinoceros, Grasshopper, Solidworks, 3DS Max, Maya, AutoCAD, Inventor, Revit
KuKA 6-axis robot, 5-axis mill, laser cutter, 3D printer, waterjet, masonry, metalworking
Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, V-Ray, Premiere Pro, After Effects, charcoal, sketching

Professional Experience

Sept. 2023 - Present

Jun. 2022 - Present

Feb. 2021 - May 2022

Jan. 2019 - Aug. 2021

June 2019 - Aug. 2019

May 2017 - Aug. 2018

Self Assembly Lab, Cambridge, MA
Research Assistant, Robotics

Payette, Boston, MA
Architectural Designer

Studio Other Spaces, Berlin, Germany
Architectural Designer

Studio J. Jih, Boston, MA

Research Lead

Zahner Labs, Kansas City, MO

Research & Development Intern

Digital Building Lab, Atlanta, GA

Research Assistant, Construction Automation

Teaching Experience

Aug. 2019 - May 2020

Dec. 2016 - Aug. 2018

MIT SA+P, Cambridge, MA

Teaching Assistant

4.153 Core III Studio (Coordinator: Sheila Kennedy)
4.151 Core I Studio (Coordinator: Brandon Clifford)

4.022 Design Techniques and Technologies (Instructors: Thomas Heatherwick & J. Jih)

4.105 Geometric Disciplines & Architecture Skills (Instructor: J. Jih)

Georgia Tech College of Design, Atlanta, GA

Teaching Assistant
ARCH 8863: Intro to Robotic Fabrication (Instructor: Shani Sharif)

ARCH 8833: Robotic Fabricates (Instructors: Shani Sharif & Daniel Baerlecken)
ARCH 8833: Robotic Operations (Instructor: Keith Kaseman)
ARCH 8855: Core III Studio: Super-Utility Dronotypes (Instructor: Keith Kaseman)
ARCH 8833: Media & Modeling III (Instructor: Keith Kaseman)
ARCH 2211: History of Architecture I (Instructor: Michelle Rinehart)

Awards + Honors

Fall 2023
Spring 2022
Summer 2020
Spring 2019
Fall 2018
Spring 2018
Spring 2018
Spring 2018
Spring 2018
Spring 2018
Spring 2018
Fall 2017
Fall 2017
Fall 2017
Spring 2017
Spring 2017
Spring 2016
Fall 2015
Spring 2015

MIT Department of Architecture, Floyd A. Naramore Memorial Scholarship
MIT Department of Architecture, AIA Henry Adams Medal
UNI.XYZ Modern Winery Design Competition, 1st Place
MIT Core II People’s Pool Design Competition, 1st Place
MIT Department of Architecture, Graduate Fellowship
Lewis F. & Patricia R. Lanter Student Award, 1st Place in Design Excellence
Alpha Rho Chi Medal
School of Architecture, Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Assistant
World Architecture, Vol. 179 Cover Image
University System of Georgia, Outstanding Scholar Award
Morphosis Architects, NYC Externship
School of Architecture Portfolio Design Competition: 1st Place Senior
School of Architecture Portfolio Design Competition: 1st in Section
President’s Undergraduate Research Award
James Bowden Addy Memorial Scholarship
GT Center for Teaching & Learning, Undergraduate TA of the Year
Sophomore Design of Excellence, 1st Place
School of Architecture Portfolio Design Competition: 1st in Section
Mike Rice Design Competition: 2nd Place Individual Drawing Set