Ruxin Xie

Ruxin (pronounced as Ru-shin) is a researcher, designer, and lifelong maker. Her work lies at the intersection of art, architecture, mechanics, and robotics.  
She lives with a tabby cat named TT — Tiny Tiger. ᓚᘏᗢ

Curriculum vitae
Publications
Contact

2025
XXXBuildfest 2024Bethel, NY, USAXXIXRobotic SetupsPrinceton, NJ, USA
2023
XXVIIIThe ObservatoryCupertino, CA, USA XXVIITree House[Concept]XXVIGoogle StoreSanta Monica, CA, USAXXVCat LampCupertino, CA, USA
2022
XXIVSystems EngagementAnn Arbor, MI, USA
2021
XXIIICocoonAnn Arbor, MI, USAXXIISocial EquilibriaVenice, ItalyXXITopology Optimized Building Envelope Ann Arbor, MI, USAXXPoly-Fractal PackingAnn Arbor, MI, USAXIXPneumatic Origami Self FoldingAnn Arbor, MI, USA
2020
XVIIIDesign Ecologies of Glass[Concept]XVIIArchitecture {AI}[Concept]XVIVolumetric KnittingAnn Arbor, MI, USAXVShelf - Generative DeisignAnn Arbor, MI, USAXIVLight LeakAnn Arbor, MI, USAXIIITriByteAnn Arbor, MI, USAXIIMantaAnn Arbor, MI, USAXIHoursteelAnn Arbor, MI, USA
2019
XContext. Community. Co-op. Core[Concept]IXPlayscapeAnn Arbor, MI, USAVIIIExquisite LampAnn Arbor, MI, USAVIIKnitted InflatablesAnn Arbor, MI, USA
2018
VIEngageAnn Arbor, MI, USAVFantastic Beasts And Here They Are[Concept]IVAnimation and Architecture[Concept]
2017 and Earlier
IIISponge at Crossroad[Concept]IIBridge Church[Concept]IBirdwatching Pavilion[Concept]
Life

Drawings
Photography
Cooking




© 2017–2025 Ruxin Xie
Engage
Year
2018
Location
Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Status
Built
Material
GFRP, Nylastic, Aluminum Frame
Course
ARCH 509 ENGAGE
Affiliation
Taubman College University of Michigan
Role
Led the textile team in translating the design concept into physical textiles. Learned and simulated the in-house scripting tool springFORM to generate mesh relaxation programming for 3D CNC knitting.
Instructor
Sean Ahlquist
Students
Gowri Saini Balasubramaniam, Allison Booth, Patrick Mark Brautigan, Malcolm Brom, Antonia Deller, Carl Uwe Eppinger, Amlin Iqbal Eshita, Natalie Leonard, Haley Mayes, Karan Nashine, Marco Nieto, Jiayue Qin, Rachel Skof, Adithi Vellimana, Ryan Wang, Ruxin Xie, Le Yang, Renqing Yang, Yaxin Zheng
Tool Box
Rhino, springFORM, Processing



In Course 509, we used springFORM to design the form of our first fabric-related project. The goal was to make a “journey-through” space that let users explore and engage. We also worked to design a “canvas” so the interactivity team could project animations for kids to poke and interact with.

springFORM, a Java-based software developed as part of Prof. Sean Ahlquist’s research, is a form-finding tool used to simulate and actively manipulate structural behaviors in textile hybrid systems. It computes complex interactions between bending-active elements and tensile surfaces by representing these interactions as networks of springs. This tool allows us to iteratively adjust boundary lengths, interconnection points, and mesh topologies, enabling a dynamic exploration of geometric and structural relationships.​
The design had an enclosed “inner world” with a large projection surface as the central interactive hub. Two cylindrical structures came from this hub and connected to a flexible mesh frame. After we developed the initial model, we added anchor points to make the textile stronger, stop tearing, and keep the mesh on the ground. These changes made the structure more stable and durable while meeting its visual and functional goals.
To encourage kids to engage with the structure, one team from our student groupd develped animation that is depth recoanized, when the textile distance changed the animation will change too, and it largely encourages children to interact with the structure. 


 The child in this video is engaging with one of our prototypes—a flexible, knitted structure with textile tubes designed to offer gentle resistance, enclosure, and movement. Through our design and testing process, we found that these kinds of tactile, immersive experiences can help children feel more grounded, playful, and in control of their sensory world.