© Photo courtesy of Daniel Garcia

I'm Leily Khatibi, a digital designer and new media artist based in Silicon Valley.

I am passionate about creating delightful interactive experiences, and telling stories that explore the roles of art and design in shaping and humanizing technological environments.

I have worked in the Design Industry for the past 5 years. Currently, I’m working as a Freelancer–making digital and physical products more approachable and intuitive.

Before this, I was a Master's student at CADRE New Media Lab, SJSU, where I also taught Digital Media Art courses.

Outside of work, my interests include traveling, reading, contemporary art and music.

Download Resume

Education

M.F.A. Digital Media Art
San Jose State University

  |  2020

San Jose, CA

B.S. Architecture
Art & Architecture Azad University of Tehran (IAUCTB)

  |  2015

Tehran, Iran

Experience

Freelance Product Designer

2015 - Present
    Collaborating with developer teams and managing a wide variety of cross-media projects involving branding, UI/UX and 3D design for clients such as Costco, LogicLink inc. and Innovative Food Systems

    Digital Media Art Instructor
    San Jose State University

      |  2018 - 2020

    San Jose, CA

    • Taught Adobe Creative Suite, video production, 3D modeling, AR & VR, web design and creative coding to 100+ undergrads

      • Experiential Producer
      WeWork

        |  2019 

      San Jose, CA

        Worked directly with Product Managers of the future cities initiative
        Responsibilities included liaising with production/design teams and vendors to execute live, experiential events–predominantly installation and audio-visual tech support

        Design Technologist
        OpenChannel Safety Resident Network

          |  2018 - 2019

        San Francisco, CA

          Worked on functional and aesthetic development of the client-side graphical user interface, as well as implementing long range IoT connectivity between client devices and the Cloud

          Multimedia Design Intern
          ZERO1 | The Art & Technology Network

            |  2017

          San Jose, CA

            Created assets and layout for landing pages, developed visual guidelines for newsletter campaigns and video post-production

Selected Exhibitions

The de Young Open
de Young Museum

  |  TBD

San Francisco, CA

/Digital Room/
Slash Art

  |  2020

San Francisco, CA  –  virtual exhibition @room_slashartsf

Genesis, Chamber Music Festival Silicon Valley
Mexican Heritage Plaza

  |  2020

San Jose, CA

Interconnecting with the Wood Wide Web
Backyard SJ; Gallery 3 & Shaded Greenhouse, SJSU

  |  2019

San Jose, CA

SJSU MFA Thesis Exhibition
Root Division

  |  2019

San Francisco, CA  –  group exhibition curated by Kevin B. Chen

Ritual Vitality
Black Gallery

  |  2019

San Jose, CA

IRL (In Real Life)
Gallery 5

  |  2018

San Jose, CA

Patch Room
Teer Art Fair

  |  2018

Tehran, Iran – invited by D.A.H Project

Softwar[e]
B4B3L4B Gallery

  |  2018

Oakland, CA  –  collaborative exhibition curated by Tiare Ribeaux

Curatorial Projects

Virtual Institute of Simulation Art [VISA]
visatopia.xyz

  |  2020 - 2022

Online worldwide  –  co-curated with Kiki Wu

Technoromantic Narratives
Sylvan Gallery

  |  TBD  (postponed due to COVID-19)

Sand City, CA  –  co-curated with Roya Ebtehaj

Honors & Awards

Honorable Mention in the College + Activision Adobe Creative Jam
Adobe

  |  2020

ICA Portfolio Review Scholarship
San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art

  |  2019

SJSU Art Department Scholarship
Robert Griffith Foundation

  |  2017

CSU Summer Arts Scholarship
The California State University

  |  2017

Press & Publications

Leily Khatibi: Immersive Experience Designer
Content Magazine, Issue 12.1: Device

  |  2020

Bridging the Digital Divide
Leonardo ABstracts Service

  |  2020

Interconnecting with the Wood Wide Web
Last Magazine

  |  2019

MFA Thesis Exhibition Catalogue
San Jose State University

  |  2019

Softwar[e] Manifesto
Wired Blog

  |  2018