Intention Encoded

From sketch to circuit, Zhirayr Ghukasyan — a Fab Academy graduate — is crafting a new design language where art meets logic, and ideas become impact by blending intention with invention.

At the intersection of aesthetic intuition and engineering precision stands someone who doesn’t just design — he redefines. A recent Fab Academy graduate at Fab Lab Armenia, Zhirayr Ghukasyan brings together the tactile curiosity of a childhood tinkerer, the disciplined mind of an engineer, and the reflective soul of a creator who believes that innovation begins with intention.

This is not just a story about machines, prototypes, and sensors. It’s about imagination in action — a journey of form, function, and freedom.

From Curiosity to Craft

Before he could name it, Zhirayr was already living the design process. As a child, he took apart household gadgets not to break them, but to understand their language. He sketched, assembled, rebuilt — always asking, how does this work? and what could make it better?

This early curiosity led him to pursue a Master’s in Industrial Design at the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia, following his technical education at Abovyan State College. But school was never just about degrees — it was a springboard into deeper exploration: of bionics, material behavior, and how things around us could become smarter, more sustainable, and more human.

“I’ve always been drawn to the space between art and engineering,” he says. “It’s where something new can emerge.”

A Designer Who Thinks Like an Engineer

Before joining Fab Lab Armenia, Zhirayr spent over four years at DZZZ Studio, moving from concept sketches to technical drawings, and from digital models to production-ready prototypes. There, he developed a rare skillset: fluent in both aesthetics and function, design logic and physical constraints.

It was during this time that his appreciation for digital fabrication deepened. CNCs, 3D printers, and prototyping tools weren’t just machines — they were enablers of thoughtful experimentation. But he still craved a space where process mattered as much as product.

That’s when he encountered Fab Lab Armenia.

A Lab for Living Systems

His first interaction with the Fab Lab community happened during a hackathon. “There was this immediate sense of openness — of shared learning, of people unafraid to try, fail, and try again,” he recalls. That spirit resonated. Soon, he was not just visiting Fab Lab — he was shaping its future.

At Fab Academy, he found the ideal framework to stretch his thinking and skills. His final project? A modular hydroponic system for urban spaces — thoughtfully designed to make growing food at home easy, even in tight or transient living conditions. It’s a sleek, sensor-driven, water-conscious design that reflects his belief: that sustainability doesn’t need to feel like a compromise.

“I wanted to design something that gives people agency over their environment — even if they only have a windowsill.”

Nature as Muse, Technology as Tool

From bionic forms inspired by insects to modular systems influenced by urban constraints, Zhirayr’s work is grounded in the belief that good design is responsive, intentional, and inclusive.

Hiking and observing nature — habits rooted in his time as a scout — remain essential to his process. “Insects taught me a lot,” he laughs. “How their form follows function, how nothing is wasted.”

That fascination with structure, behavior, and efficiency continues to inform how he thinks about product design — from sustainable home systems to everyday objects that quietly improve life.

Creating Space for Others to Grow

At Fab Lab Armenia, he doesn’t just make — he mentors. Whether it’s introducing students to 3D modeling or walking community members through CNC workflows, he believes that how we learn is just as important as what we learn.

“I always encourage people to start with a question,” he says. “It’s okay not to know — what matters is that you keep exploring.”

His advice to newcomers? Don’t wait until you feel ready. Dive in. Learn by doing. Don’t be afraid of mistakes — they’re invitations to understand something more deeply.

Vision for the Future: More Than Design

Ask him what he wants next, and the answer is layered: meaningful products, sustainable solutions, global collaborations. Zhirayr dreams of building his own design lab — a place where people can tinker, prototype, reflect, and grow.

And while he’s exploring microcontrollers and basic web development, his larger mission is clear: to fuse technology, design, and purpose into tools that help others live better — not more complicated — lives.

In his words: “I want to work on things that matter. That feel good to use. That solve problems not just functionally, but beautifully.”