Max Triff

VOLUNTEER

Max Triff is a rising senior at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), studying Industrial Design with a concentration in Nature–Culture–Sustainability Studies. His work centers on innovative solutions that address present-day challenges while envisioning a more sustainable future. Inspired by nature’s problem-solving expertise, he draws on his explorations in biomimicry and biophilia to develop impactful, systems-oriented design solutions.

Grounded in a robust set of technical skills, Max brings ideas to life through hand sketching, rapid prototyping, CAD, and advanced shop techniques. From woodworking new aesthetics and engineering precision mechanisms to conceptualizing future vehicles and UAVs, he approaches design as both craft and inquiry, merging thoughtful artistry with technical expertise. In Spring 2025, Max participated in RISD’s renowned NASA Extreme Environments studio, culminating in the full-scale construction of a Martian geology lab, presented to a panel of NASA and Blue Origin engineers and designers.

At the Aurelia Institute, Max is developing interior architectural configurations and workspaces for the TESSERAE habitat, integrating a range of biotech capabilities to culminate into the Orbital Biolab. This work is especially meaningful to him, as it advances the space industry towards a future of developing solutions in orbit for the shared benefit of life on Earth.

When he’s not in his studio, or sketching spaceships, you’ll most likely find Max out in nature, where he spends his free time birdwatching and photographing wildlife.