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 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 innovative 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
PhD Student
Jan 2022 - current - 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