Episode 030 | Sayjel Patel: Relentless Pursuit of a Mission

In this episode I talk with Sayjel Vijay Patel. Sayjel is an MIT-trained architect, technologist and the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Digital Blue Foam. Sayjel’s past work bridges across the scales of software, materials, and cities, often mashing-up industrial technologies in new and provocative collaborations; From a Bartending System using Kuka Robots for Google I/O;  to developing an award-winning Mars 3D printing concept for NASA,  to designing a fleet of emotion-sensing robots for the Shenzhen Biennale in 2019. Sayjel was a Founding Professor at the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (the DIDI), the first Design University to open in the UAE, where he pioneered a new format of combinatorial design education - where students are trained in 2 different design disciplines simultaneously. Before joining the DIDI, Sayjel was a Researcher with the SUTD Digital Design and Manufacturing and Design Center in Singapore, where he invented an award winning software for multi-material 3D printing. Since 2013, Sayjel has coordinated “CodeKitchen”, an ongoing series of peer-to-peer learning labs and workshops to bridge emerging technology and design practices. Today, Sayjel is concentrating 100% of his time as the co-founder, and CTO of Digital Blue Foam - an architectural software start-up. Digital Blue Foam’s mission is to create the algorithms, interfaces, and operating systems, to accelerate the decarbonization of the building industry. In his free time, Sayjel loves to oil paint, and spend quality time with his wife and daughter.   In our podcast Sayjel and I talk about the importance of urban density, how two key metrics are the most important way to drive low carbon cities, and how to scale design strategies at an urban level to reduce the carbon footprint of city dwellers.  I hope you enjoy our conversation!                                             -------------------- You can read more about this podcast in the podcast’s Show Notes.  Please Support this Podcast: The Twenty First Century Imperative podcast relies entirely on user support. If you find it valuable please consider supporting us by becoming a patron at our TFCI Patreon Page. And we now have a new TFCI Online-shop, with all the proceeds going to cover our production costs!  And It has some great products for you! We have organic, fair-trade t-shirts and hoodies, as well as non-toxic BPA-free coffee containers, with great graphics! So, if you like the podcast, please think about helping us out by buying a t-shirt, hoodie or mug for you (and one for each of your friends!!!)