Noah Paessel

I live in the beautiful Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts, where I enjoy the natural world and the intellectual inquisitiveness cultivated in the five-college area. You may find me jogging, hiking local trails, or sketching new ideas when I'm not teaching, programming, or working in the studio.

I work at the intersection of technology, design, and education. Over the years, I've written software, exhibited sculptures, and taught artists and designers how to leverage technology in their work. I started making websites when the web didn't have any known commercial potential. The whole thing was a radical experiment. I continue to explore uncertain technologies, curious about how they might be used for creative expression and amplification.

What I Do:

• Teaching & Mentorship: I teach web design, animation, and creative coding. I enjoy empowering students with tools and processes that might otherwise feel exclusive or out of reach. I believe in hands-on, collaborative, project-based learning, where diversity is celebrated and students engage their curiosity.
• Full-Stack Development: Crafting user-centric web apps with modern JavaScript tooling like React and TypeScript.
• Data Visualization: I turn complex data into visually engaging stories using tools like D3.js, Three.js, and custom-built solutions.
• Creative Coding: I create generative art, interactive installations, and digital experiences with tools like P5.js and Blender.

Career Highlights:

• Co-led a $1.9M NSF-funded project to design learning activities that integrate computational thinking with geoscience concepts in the authentic context of volcanic and seismic risk assessment.
• Founded and grew SNiF Labs, raising $3.5M in funding to create an innovative pet monitoring system.
• Exhibited a computer-controlled fountain at the ICA Boston as part of the Boston Now series of exhibitions.
• Designed and developed educational software that supports inquiry-based learning in science classrooms.

What's Inspiring Me Right Now:

• Exploring GLSL and the new paradigms in GPU programming through resources like The Book of Shaders.
• Discovering the evolution of low-code and visual programming tools, like NoFlo.
• Experimenting with the Godot game engine, which uniquely blends object-oriented coding with visual component configuration.
• Imagining how artificial intelligence will reshape the future of education, from personalized learning to creative exploration.
• Drawing inspiration from the Blender Foundation, is a pioneering open-source organization of artists and technologists pushing boundaries in computer graphics.