Maya Kaplan is a fashion, footwear, and textile designer and researcher working at the intersection of materials, technology, and the moving body.

Her work is driving innovation in the fashion and textile industry by integrating computational design, digital fabrication, and advanced textile development to create high-performance functional products and innovative design solutions, resulting in patented inventions and international design awards.

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Projects

In her personal & research work, Maya explores the potential of 3D printing for fashion, textile, and footwear design. She is currently focused on the research and development of 3D-printed textiles using computational tools, the integration of 3D printing into performance apparel, and the development of innovative digital design workflows for the future of fashion and textiles.

Two mannequin legs wearing colorful, abstract patterned pantyhose and orange shoe covers with green pins attached.
Hand holding a black lace Victorian-style fan with intricate patterns.
A black, modern, Artistic kettle with a handle and small legs, with a cloth pouch inside.
A modern black and gray skateboard with a textured grip tape surface held in midair by a hand wearing a black glove, against a plain white background.
A black shoe sole with textured patterns and small cleats, taken from a low angle against a plain background.
Pink lace lingerie top with thin straps, laid flat against a white surface.

ALGORITHM-BASED AND PERFORMANCE-DRIVEN DESIGN

With a background in sports and movement as an acrobat, coach, dancer, and yoga teacher, Maya’s work is inspired by a deep understanding of the human body. Through computational design and digital tools, she develops functional products that are better adapted to the body, creating a bridge between technology, movement, and performance.

  • A performer on a dark stage, dressed in a colorful, rainbow-patterned bodysuit, suspended with harnesses and ropes, with their arms extended.

  • Two individuals dressed in colorful, patterned costumes with one person holding the other's hands, set against a dark background.

  • Two individuals on stage, one woman wearing colorful striped outfit and a matching hat, and one man wearing a white jacket with a red scarf and a red cap, engage in a conversation with a microphone, with a blue background displaying the name Maya Kapran and the words 'Human Marionette'.

  • A woman performing a handstand on parallettes against a black background.

  • Close-up of a person wearing beige high-heeled shoes with black straps, standing on a light-colored wooden floor. The person's leg is near thick white ropes. The image is part of a promotional poster for the Global Footwear Awards 2022, featuring the logo and text indicating it is a category winner.

  • Close-up of a person wearing futuristic, colorful shoes with neon green and blue elements, and leggings featuring a purple and green leaf pattern. The shoes are pointed and have small green knobs on the sides.

  • Two decorative vases resembling paint cans with red bases and dripping brown paint on top, set against a white background.

  • Close-up of two legs wearing colorful knee-high socks and orange slippers with green pegs, lifted against a plain white background.

  • Two performers in colorful costumes sit on the floor in a dark space with a spotlight, surrounded by toys and a hanging doll. One performer has a pink and purple costume with dreadlocks and the other has a blue and green costume with a head covering.

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WORKFLOWS

Maya’s workflows explore the intersection between traditional craftsmanship and emerging technologies, blending computational tools, digital fabrication, material experimentation, and hands-on practices.

  • Screenshot of a 3D modeling software interface showing a wireframe and a node-based editing layout with parameters for curve and region trimming.
  • Sheet of paper with sketches and plans for weaving or lace patterns, alongside samples of intricate woven or lace strips in black, beige, and purple on a white surface.
  • Various black and patterned fabric pieces, some shaped like shoes or insoles, with white marking paper and sketches in the background.
  • Multiple sheets of black mesh screen material with different grid patterns stacked on top of each other for craft or industrial use.
  • Hand carving wood with a rotary tool, creating detailed designs on a wooden piece.
  • Back view of a woman wearing a black lace bra with adjustable straps and a rear hook closure.
  • 3D printer inside a machine with a green object being printed.
  • 3D illustration of a human head in profile view displaying facial muscles and anatomy.
  • Close-up of a person's hand holding a piece of black, sheer fabric with wavy striped pattern, revealing the skin underneath.
  • Computer screen displaying 3D models of abstract, blob-like shapes with wireframes and shaded surfaces, along with a graph editor and node-based interface.
  • A fabric shoe last form on a white surface next to a blue mechanical pencil.
  • Outline of a one-piece swimsuit decorated with red rhinestones creating a star pattern on the front, set against a gray background.
  • Various shoe parts and accessories, including insoles, soles, mesh fabric, and shoe molds, arranged on a light wooden surface.
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