Product · Textile · Material
Material research, body-worn systems and physical prototyping - with close to a decade of experience in product development, driven by the belief that technology is a tool for human development.
Selected work
Material and construction research into triangular folding systems as a method for generating three-dimensional form from flat textile. The project maps the structural logic of the fold - testing how geometry, material stiffness and seam placement determine volume, movement and wearability.
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A research prototype investigating the relationship between repetitive hand movement and cognitive state. Combines computer vision tracking, voice input and gestural interaction to develop a body-based interface - grounding the research in physical behaviour rather than screen-based tools.
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A hand-embroidered linen dress integrating Nitinol shape-memory wire directly into the stitch. Above a set temperature threshold, the wire activates - contracting at the waist and altering the fit of the garment on the body. As the wearer feels the dress tighten, they internalise the heat around them not as an abstract statistic, but as a bodily experience.
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Material research into the interface between rigid and flexible structures on the body. A triangular modular system - laser-cut brass connected by living hinges - was developed to sit over Rochelle lace, testing how metal and textile can share load, movement and contact with skin.
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End-to-end development of custom orthopedic footwear for patients with complex biomechanical needs - including limb length discrepancy and pressure distribution disorders. Process spans baropodometric analysis, last construction and pattern making, to hand assembly. The process combines digital diagnostic tools with traditional craft - where technology defines the problem and the hand resolves it. Developed in collaboration with Ortopedia Lore, Italy.
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About
Maya Zakai is a textile and industrial designer based in Ramat Gan, Israel. Her practice spans material research, body-worn systems and physical prototyping - driven by the belief that technology is a tool for human development.
Get in touch
Open to new projects, collaborations and conversations around design, making and material.
mayaz27@gmail.com →