An educator, architect, and computational designer, Dr. Arash Soleimani is Professor and Chair of the Graduate Design Programs in the Schools of Architecture and Media : Culture : Design at Woodbury University
in Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Soleimani holds a multidisciplinary PhD in Architectural Robotics from Clemson University’s School of Architecture, where his research bridged electrical and computer engineering, materials science and engineering, education, and human factors psychology. He also earned a Master of Architecture from the University of Nottingham, UK, with a focus on Responsive and Interactive Environments in Museums, a subject on which he published a book. His academic foundation in design began with a Bachelor of Architecture from Isfahan University of Art, Iran.

His research and teaching focus on the design, prototyping, and evaluation of Intelligent Design Systems—integrating embedded computation into both built and natural environments. His work emphasizes algorithmic form-making while exploring new possibilities for spatial experience, content, and everyday use. This approach reflects a vision of futurism grounded in the symbiotic relationship between nature and technology. 

Dr. Soleimani has received multiple awards and research grants for his contributions to design computation, with his work showcased at international conferences and community-driven design initiatives. Prior to joining Woodbury, he taught at Kennesaw State University, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and Clemson University. As an educator, researcher, and practitioner, he continues to push the boundaries of design innovation, integrating computational methodologies and emerging technologies to shape the next generation of designers fluent in computation, creativity, and critical inquiry.

Discipline of Intelligent Design Systems
Dr. Arash Soleimani has been teaching and conducting research across design programs in the U.S., U.K., and Iran since 2007. He is the founder of i-arch studio, a design-research practice dedicated to exploring how computational thinking can shape algorithmic processes, creative practices, and innovative design outcomes.

At the heart of this inquiry is the development of a conceptual and practical framework known as the Discipline of Intelligent Design Systems (IDS)—a transdisciplinary approach that examines the dynamic relationships among people, environments, artifacts, and the governing rules that shape them.

IDS draws from multiple fields to inform a unified design vision, guided by three interrelated themes:
 
1) Computational Thinking (CT); 2) Parametrics; and 3) Digital Fabrication

This integrated approach reimagines design as a responsive and evolving system—where technology, material intelligence, and human interaction converge to create meaningful spatial experiences.