Shabnam and the Thread That Intertwines Talent and Vision
Shabnam's story spans geography, knowledge, and disciplines. It is a thread connecting engineering and architecture, Iran and Italy, the past and the future, where research and innovation intertwine in unexpected paths, giving rise to new forms and languages made through fresh design.
Shabnam was born in Tabriz, Iran, in 1995, and grew up in Tehran. The environment was complex, with an education system that demands early choices and specialized paths. From the start, she felt the dilemma between engineering and architecture, and her search was to find a way to merge these two disciplines. She was attracted to mechanical engineering, where she established a vocation rooted in logic and technical rigor, but without neglecting the symmetry and openness of a broad worldview, full of fluid sensitivity and dialogues between things and languages, between science, architecture, and design.
Commitment, empowerment, and awareness are the defining traits of Shabnam and the core values that inspire the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This day is dedicated to individuals who, like her, devote themselves to research as a pursuit of knowledge, vision, experimentation, and the ability to transform and reshape the future.
Arriving at the Politecnico di Milano - pursuing a degree in Architectural Engineering marked the point where she found a cross-disciplinary education, where technology meets form, and innovation is paired with aesthetics as a consistent mark of the project in its comprehensive vision.
It was at the Politecnico di Milano that Shabnam was introduced to many perspectives of textile architecture. Here, her research on textile materials for architecture found fertile ground.
One particular project became the focus of her thesis. She developed a carbon fiber façade prototype under the guidance of Professor Pierpaolo Ruttico at IndexLab.
Here she encountered also i-Mesh and she was drawn to the company's strong presence in university laboratories dedicated to the application of textiles in architecture and its collaboration with IndexLab. The affinity in the use of materials—interpreted, however, in a remarkably softer manner compared to the ICD (Institute for Computational Design and Construction) Lab—made this encounter a natural one. A thread seamlessly intertwined with her research path, opening new possibilities and perspectives.
This research represented a turning point, both scientifically and educationally, and marked the beginning of her journey with i-Mesh, where she would join the Technical and Project Development Department to explore the potential of textile materials in architecture, experimenting with solutions that combine aesthetics and performance.
Her studies and experiences in Milan also validated the advice and inspiration received from a key figure in her education, Professor Pooyan Hashemi from the Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran.
Shabnam’s story is one of knowledge, curiosity, and cultural dialogue, driven by deep self-awareness and self-confidence. A phrase has accompanied her throughout her journey, guiding her path to Europe, where she chose to study in Italy and collaborate with i-Mesh, a company with a global vocation, cultivating innovation and research as the foundation of its development model.
“Trust yourself and stay calm, you’re doing well!”
Simple but meaningful words, where intelligence, passion, and determination lay the groundwork for new stories, new visions, and new horizons.
