In recent years, after a decade of work as designer, I have broadened my practice to encompass academic research. I am currently affiliated with the, Computational Media and Arts Lab at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in Guangzhou (China).
Before that, I served as Research Fellow and I Obtained my Ph.D at the the Center for Computational Sonology at the University of Padova (Italy).
My recent research effort has primarily explored critical reflection and sustainable action within design practices. I have investigated open-source tools and methods to develop interfaces in both the form of tangible devices and GUIs . The aim of these explorations is to push the boundaries of current practices, finding solutions to enhance the full potential of each design project, while considering its long-term impact.
I engage in hands-on design projects and studies with people and communities, and I have over a decade of experience in supporting artists and musicians to develop new interactive devices with a focus on new musical experiences
Below is a list of my contributions, you can also explore my Orcid and Google Scholar profiles
Academic Experience
Assistant Professor of Practice (Lecturer I)
July 2024 - Current - Guangzhou (CN)
CMA / the HKUST-GZ
PhD Student
Jan 2022 - May 2025 - Padua (IT)
CSC Padova / Università di Padova
Visiting
March 2024 - Guangzhou (CN)
HKUST(GZ), visiting research period at CMA
Research fellow
Sept 2020 - Oct 2021 - Padua (IT)
CSC Padova / Università di Padova
Publications
Journal Publications
2024 - Sustainable Internet of Musical Things: Strategies to Account for Environmental and Social Sustainability in Network-Based Interactive Music Systems
R Masu, N Merendino, A Rodà, L Turchet
IEEE Access
DOI: 10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3393468
2024 - Below 58 BPM", Involving real-time monitoring and self-medication practices in music performance through IoT technology
N Merendino, A Rodà, R Masu
Frontiers in Computer Science
DOI: 10.3389/fcomp.2024.1187933
2024 - DIY Musical Instruments and Communities: From Handmade Electronic Circuits to Microcontrollers and Digital Fabrication
N Merendino
Journal of Ubiquitous Music
Article
Full papers in conference proceedings
2024 - Prototyping a sustainable GUI for an IoMusT project: A reflection on the adoption of sustainable practices
ES Panozzo, M Bettega, A Rodà, N Merendino
Proceedings of the 2024 IEEE 5th International Symposium on the Internet of Sounds
DOI: 10.1109/is262782.2024.10704195
2024 - Sustainable digital fabrication in NIME: Nine sustainability strategies for DMI production
N Merendino, M Bettega, A Pultz Melbye, J Sullivan, A Rodà, R Masu
Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression 2024
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.13904850
2023 - Redesigning the chowndolo: a reflection-on-action analysis to identify sustainable strategies for NIMEs design
N Merendino, L Giacomo, A Rodà, M Raul
Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression 2024
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.11189153
2021 - Defining an open source CAD workflow for experimental music and media arts
N Merendino, A Rodà
Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Digital and Interactive
DOI: 10.1145/3483529.3483715
Other short publications and workshops
2023 - Poster-Noiseboard Project: Using Sensors and Long-Range Wireless Communication For Musical Augmentation of Skateboarding
N Merendino, G Dinello, A Rizzo, A Rodà, R Masu
Proceedings of the 15th Biannual Conference of the Italian SIGCHI
DOI: 10.1145/3605390.3610807
2023 - Workshop Hosting at NIME: Eco wiki and digital fabrication Workshop
N Merendino,R Masu
Included in the program of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression 2023
2015 - Not all days are equal: investigating the meaning in the digital calendar
D Buzzo, N Merendino
Proceedings of the 33rd Annual ACM Conference Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems
DOI: 10.1145/2702613.2732512
Teaching and supervision
Master Thesis supervision
2024 - Towards Sustainable IoT: Theoretical Design of an Adaptive Environmental Monitoring Device Using LoRaWAN and GSM Connectivity
Student: Sandeep Kumar - Master Thesis
(In Publication)
2023 - Definition of a Model for Self-Monitoring Stress Levels During a Musical Performance. A Case Study: The "Below 58 BPM" Project*
Student: Maddalena Tommaso - Master Thesis
Link
Bachelor Thesis supervision
2024 - Design and Prototype of a One-String MIDI Harp*
Student: Soffiati Corrado - Bachelor Thesis
(In Publication)
2023 - Below 58 BPM": Project and Development of a User Interface Following an Open Source Approach
Student: Panozzo, Elisa Silene - Bachelor Thesis
Link
2023 - Plants, Computer Music, and IoT: A Study on the Integration Between Plants and Musical Performance
Student: Sterlino, Massimo - Bachelor Thesis
Link
Note: In the Italian system Bachelor theses often require a small amount of research work with a definition of a research question and a solid methodology. To the point that one of these theses constituted the bases for a publication. Titles are translated by me from the original.
Lectures
2024 - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), China
Computational Media and Arts (CMA)
Classes on design practices and digital fabrication for tangible interfaces development
2023 -Università degli studi di Padova, Italy
COMPUTER ENGINEERING FOR MUSIC AND MULTIMEDIA COURSE
Class on Networked Musical Interfaces
2023 - Institute of Music, Science and Engineering King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok, Thailand
Lecture on Musical instruments Design and Development
2023 -Università degli studi di Parma, Italy
DESIGN SOSTENIBILE PER IL SISTEMA ALIMENTARE COURSE
Lecture on Musical instruments Design and Development
2022 - Conservatorio C. Pollini, Padova, Italy
SaMPL School "Web audio and IoT for la musical production"
Master Class on Networked Musical Interfaces
2021 -Università degli studi di Padova, Italy
COMPUTER ENGINEERING FOR MUSIC AND MULTIMEDIA COURSE
Class on Printed Circuit Board design
Note: Besides lectures in universities I conducted many teaching acticities, more info in my About page