The one-year, nonresidential fellowship program celebrates Messie’s groundbreaking approach to how technology can intersect with traditional craft.
The Steve Jobs Archive Fellowship was created to empower young innovators who embody the spirit of curiosity, creativity, and craftsmanship that Steve Jobs championed. This year, Huw Messie (BFA ’21) joins the 2024 fellowship class, recognized for his pioneering work in computational embroidery — novel form of animation using code-driven embroidery. Messie, based in Freeville, NY, developed what he calls “algorithmic machine embroidery” as a novel form of animation using a collection of programs in Java Processing to convert video imagery into embroidery patterns. He explored this fusion of digital and tactile art forms as a student at the School of Art, focusing on human-computer interaction and new media.
The Steve Jobs Archive launched the fellowship to offer young creators resources for professional and personal growth, much as Jobs believed that “great tools enable people to make wonderful things.” The program, founded in 2022 by Jobs’ friends and family, draws on his belief that art, technology, and craftsmanship can blend to create tools that enrich lives. Fellows receive a stipend, personalized mentorship, and access to a network of bold creators working across diverse fields, helping them push their work to new heights.