Thad Starner

Professional Employment: Teaching / Research
Research Scientist II, Wearable Computing Center / Interactive Media Technology Center / GVU Center (Atlanta, GA) 2013-present
Research Scientist I, GVU Center / School of Industrial Design Georgia Tech (Atlanta, GA) 2012-2013
Lecturer School of Industrial Design, Georgia Tech (Atlanta, GA) 2007-present
Part Time Professor of Fashion Design, Savannah College of Art and Design (Atlanta, GA) 2008-2012
Professional Employment: Commercial
Owner/Creative Director, Pecan Pie Couture (Atlanta GA)
2006-present
Educational Background:
Ph.D
M.A.
B.S.
Minor
Prog
2006
2004
2004
Georgia Tech, Atlanta GA
Domus Academy, Milan, Italy
Georgia Tech, Atlanta GA
Georgia Tech, Atlanta GA
M.A. Projects:
Cultural Diversity
Inside
Wear your Hybridization
Human Centered Comp
Fashion Design
Industrial Design
Textile Manufacturing
Future Concept Lab
Antonio Berardi
Video Killed the
Radio Star
Edit
Meltn' Pot and Frankie Morello
Accessory Design
Runes
Daniela Puppa
Metro Active Woman
The Air is Free Nike and Victor Belaish
Mens Wear
Pulse Fields
Antonio Manceielli and Mario Sorbo
Master's Thesis
Horizon
Nike and Victor Belaish
Pecan Pie Couture Spring 2006
Experience Summary
While teaching textiles and fashion design studio classes at Savannah College of Art & Design, Zeagler realized his true passion lies in bridging
the gap between the disciplines of design and Human Centered Computing. A diverse background in fashion, industrial design and textiles drives
his research on electronic textiles and on-body interfaces with the Contextual Computing Group of the GVU center of Georgia Tech. As a
Research Scientist I for the Georgia Tech School of Industrial Design he teaches courses on Wearable Product Design and an ID section of
Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing (MUC). Zeagler enjoys working with corporations such as HP/Palm and Google to bring real world experience
into the classroom. He recently acquired a Georgia Space Consortium grant to fund MUC student projects on wearable computing for space—a
wonderful opportunity for undergraduate students. He is also a member of the NASA Wearable Technology Cluster a group of scientists and
academics working together to give advice to those in NASA working on wearable computing or electronic textile projects. A deep understanding
of the garment production process fosters innovation in his research. Zeagler’s company Pecan Pie Couture hand dyed, embroidered, and
screen-printed textiles and garments. Building upon that skillset, his recent research led to the creation of the proprietary Electronic Textile Interface Swatch Book ESwatchBook in collaboration with Thad Starner. This innovative tool was made possible by an internal Georgia Tech grant that
he co-authored with Thad Starner and Craig Forrest, which allowed GA Tech to purchase sewing and embroidery equipment for the GVU Prototyping Lab. The ESwatchBook is designed to help facilitate discussions between the skill and craft-based design disciplines (.i.e. fashion) and
more technical disciplines (.i.e. computer science). To put the ESwatchBook’s capabilities to the test, he developed a series of workshops at
multiple colleges with the purpose of bringing together designers with engineers / technology specialists. The workshops were funded by a National Endowment for the Arts grant, which he co-authored. Zeagler’s most recent endeavor FIDO: Facilitating Interactions for Dogs with Occupations
is an exploration into using wearable electronics to enhance interactions between service dogs and their handler/owners.
Georgia Space Consortium Grant 2012 - 2014
(accepted ~$33,000) To be used for student projects
and student travel to Johnson Space Center
Clint Zeagler PI
SunJewels, Electronic Jewelry Gift 2014
($25,000) Clint Zeagler PI
Google Gift, Wearable Tech Exhibition
Support 2014 ($25,000) Clint Zeagler PI
NEA Feb 2011 (National Endowment for the Arts)
EswatchBook – (accepted $20,000) Thad Starner PI
ETRI SOW – March 2011 - (accepted $78,000)
Interface Textiles: Integrating Conductive Ink and
Conductive Embroidery to Create Mobile Interfaces
with Feedback – Thad Starner PI – ETRI is the largest
government funded research institute in Korea –
Zeagler was funded by ETRI to research electronic
textiles between 2008 and 2012.
Georgia Tech Technology Fee Allocation Grant
GT Student Trip to show work at JSC
GTID + GOOGLE Class Exhibition at MODA
($120,000)
Co-Authored with Craig Forest ME and Thad Starner IC. Funds from this grant are being used to purchase
equipment needed to further my research in electronic textiles while also being available for student use
and education. The equipment will be distributed between the new ID Interactive Computing Lab, the GVU
Prototyping Lab, and the ME Inventure Studio Laboratory.
HP/Palm Small Equipment Donation
Coordinated HP/Palm sponsored class entitled Mobile User Experience, which included the donation of
2 Palm Pre devices for prototyping.
HP / Palm Mobile User Experience Class Exhibition
The Textile Interface Swatch Book: Creating Graphical User Interface –like Widgets with Conductive
Embroidery . S. Gilliland, N. Komor, T. Starner, and C. Zeagler. In IEEE Intl. Symp. on Wearable Computers
pages 18–25, Seoul, South Korea, 2010. Nominated for Best Paper. Clint Zeagler Presenter
The Electronic Textile Interface Workshop: Facilitating Interdisciplinary Collaboration
C. Zeagler, S. Pobiner, S. Gilliland, H. Profita, S. Audy, T. Starner. IEEE International Symposium on Technology and
Society, Toronto, Canada, June 2013
FIDO - Facilitating Interactions for Dogs with Occupations Wearable Dog-Activated Interfaces
M. Jackson, C. Zeagler, G. Valentin, A. Martin, V. Martin, A. Delawalla, W. Blount, S. Eiring, R. Hollis, & T. Starner. IEEE &
ACM International Symposium on Wearable Computers, Zurich, Switzerland, September 2013
BEST PAPER
Going to the Dogs: Towards an Interactive Touchscreen Interface for Working Dogs C. Zeagler, S. Gilliland, L. Freil,
T. Starner, and M. Jackson. In UIST Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology Honolulu, HI, USA 2014
Don't Mind Me Touching My Wrist: A Case Study of Interacting with On-Body Technology in Public
H. Profita, J. Clawson, S. Gilliland, C. Zeagler, T. Starner, J. Budd, E. Yi-Luen Do IEEE & ACM International Symposium on
Wearable Computers, Zurich, Switzerland, September 2013
Can I Wash It? : The Effect of Washing Conductive Materials Used in Making Textile Based Wearable Electronic
Interfaces C. Zeagler, S. Gilliland, S. Audy, & T. Starner. IEEE & ACM International Symposium on Wearable Computers,
Zurich, Switzerland, September 2013
Textile Interfaces: Embroidered Jog-Wheel, Beaded Tilt Sensor, Twisted Pair Ribbon, and Sound Sequins. C.
Zeagler, S. Gilliland, H. Profita, and T. Starner. In IEEE ISWC, pages 60-63, Newcastle, UK, 2012.
Is it Gropable? - Assessing the Impact of Mobility on Textile Interfaces , N. Komor, S. Gilliland, J.
Clawson, M. Bhardwaj, M. Garg, C. Zeagler, and T. Starner. In IEEE Intl. Symp. on Wearable Computers,
pages 71–74, Linz, Austria , 2009
Canine Reachability of Snout-based Wearable Inputs G. Valentin, J. Alcaidinho, L. Freil, C. Zeagler, M. Jackson, and
T. Starner. In IEEE International Symposium on Wearable Computers, Seattle, WA 2014
The Electronic Textile Interface Workshop: Scaffolding Communication Across Disciplines
S. Pobiner, C. Zeagler, H. Profita, S. Gilliland, H. Lee, S. Audy, H. Shin, T. Starner. DIS 2012 Poster, Newcastle, UK, 2012
The 60th Anniversary if Industrial Design at Georgia Tech
ISBN 978-0-9888773-0-6 Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Industrial Design
Joyce Medina & Clint Zeagler 2013
FIDO: Facilitating
Interactions for
Dogs with
Occupations
Electronic Textile Interface Swatch Book
The 60th Anniversary if Industrial Design at GT
Conference Activities
Plenary Speaker - IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society 2013
Invited Speaker - Smart Fabrics Conference 2012
Design Competition Chair, IEEE International Symposium on Wearable Computers 2011 & 2012.
Social Media Chair, IEE International Symposium on Wearable Computers 2014
Industry / Designer Workshops Organized Suppervised
Electronic Textile Interface Swatch Book Workshop @ Parsons October 2011
Electronic Textile Interface Swatch Book Workshop @ SCAD ATL March 2012
Electronic Textile Interface Swatch Book Workshop @ Georgia Tech March 2012
Electronic Textile Interface Swatch Book Workshop @ Smart Fabrics Conference Miami April 2012
Demos of Research
DARPA Private Demo - July 2013
GVU Showcases – 2010-Present
Orange Duffle Bag Charity Event (by invitation of Val Peterson) – Dec 5th 2010
On You 2 Media Walk Through – June 11th 2010
Turner Employee Showcase – May 4th 2010
CHI Media Showcase – April 10th 2010
ISWC Demos – Sept 5th 2009
Turner Employee Showcase – April 2009
Exhibition Curation:
Meeting the Challenge: The Path Towards a Consumer Wearable Computer, 2014
The history of wearable computing, showcased at multiple venues internationally
On You 2, 2010
MODA Museum Of Design Atlanta a Smithsonian Affiliate Museum:
clothing showcasing Clint Zeagler and Thad Starner's Georgia Tech
research in wearable technology
In The Bag, 2009
MODA Museum Of Design Atlanta a Smithsonian Affiliate Museum:
handbag design process showcased and explained. Also presenting
SCAD accessory design student work.
On You, 2008
MODA Museum Of Design Atlanta a Smithsonian Affiliate Museum:
showcasing Clint Zeagler and Thad Starner's Georgia Tech
research in wearable technology and mobile and ubiquitous computing.
Relevant Leadership Positions
Board of Directors, MODA Museum of Design Atlanta 2009-2010
Co Chair, Fashion Over Atlanta, 2009
Honors Include
Georgia Tech Class of 1934 Outstanding use of Technology in Education Award (2013)
Named one of Georgia Tech’s 30 under 30 by Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine
Voted Best Atlanta Fashion Designer 2006 & 2007, Creative Loafing Magazine
Trade Shows Attended
In The Bag Opening Party February 2009
SPESA (Atlanta), TechTextil (Atlanta), Linea Pella (Bologna, Italy), Moda Unica (Milan, Italy),
Bread and Butter (Berlin, Germany and Barcelona, Spain) Pitti Uomo (Florence, Italy), AmericasMart Premiere (Atlanta),
Magic (Las Vegas), Pool (Las Vegas), Salon Del Mobile (Milan, Italy)
Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine – Fashion (Far) Forward - September 2014
Georgia Tech Feature – Dogs not Dawgs - January 2014
MIT Technology Review– Next in Wearable Computing: A device for Dogs - June 2013
CNN The Big I segment on Electronic Textile Swatch Book – Oct 19th 2010
Atlanta Journal Constitution - Tech-smart clothing fabric of the future July 2, 2010
ArtsCriticATL.com - Georgia Tech
ech profs let you wear your computer on your sleeve -July 10, 2010
Atlantan Magazine – The New Nerd Mafia – Jan/Feb 2010
Atlanta Journal Constitution - "Fashion Over Atlanta" takes over retail this weekend Nov 11, 2009
Skirt – He’s So Original –– October 2009
Photographic collage shown at Vaknin Gallery 2008
Atlanta Journal Constitution - New handbag exhibit at MODA– Feb 15th 2009
Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine – 30 Under 30 - July 2008
9.29 Dave FM – Oscar Fashion Commentator for Mara Davis – Feb 2008
Creative Loafing – Best Of Atlanta 2007 – Best Atlanta Fashion Designer 2007 – Sept 2007
Sunday Paper – It List – September 2007
Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine – July 2007
Atlanta Magazine – Model Citizen – June 2007
The Atlantan – Men of Style – April 2007
Good Day Atlanta – Pecan Pie isn’t just dessert its fashion – TV – Aired May 16, 2007
Solo Fashion and Photography Installation
Telephone Factory Art Show 2004
The Atlantan –Scene In Atlanta - May 2007
Atlanta Magazine – 5 Local Designers – March 2007
Atlanta Journal Constitution Peach Buzz – January 13, 2007
Woman’s Wear Daily Atlanta – just a good ol’ boy – January 2007
Where Atlanta Guest Book – 2006 / 2007
Deep Magazine – Beauty Queen – November 2006
The Intown Story – MODA displays t-shirts as art – November 2006
Sunday Paper – Slice of Couture Pie – October 29, 2006
Sunday Paper – The Shirt Off Your Back – October 21, 2006
Atlanta Journal Constitution – Baked With Love – Feature Story – October 15, 2006
Photographic collage shown at Vaknin Gallery 2008
Laura Moody
Director of Member Engagement
Midtown Alliance
Kevin Knaus
Professor of Fashion Marketing
Savannah College of Art and Design
Thad Starner
Associate Professor
School of Interactive Computing
Georgia Institute of Technology
Christy Plott Redd
Creative Director and VP of Sales
American Tanning & Leather Company
Carie Davis
Intelligence Manager, Global Innovation
Coca Cola Company
Clint Zeagler
www.clintzeagler.com