Martin Kaltenbrunner

Martin Kaltenbrunner is a Professor for Tangible Interaction Design at the Institute of Media, University of Arts Linz, where he heads the Tangible Music Lab and directs the Postdigital Lutherie master program. Previously, he worked as a researcher and lecturer at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona and MIT Medialab Europe in Dublin. As co-founder of Reactable Systems, he developed the Reactable electronic musical instrument, which earned the Golden Nica for Digital Music at Prix Ars Electronica 2008.

His academic credentials include:

• Doctorate in Engineering, Bauhaus-University Weimar

Kaltenbrunner's research focuses on applying tangible interaction design methods to postdigital lutherie, merging physical materials with digital technologies for musical instrument creation. His work explores human-computer interaction in artistic contexts, emphasizing tactile interfaces and hybrid instrument design. This research bridges musicology, interaction design, and material science to innovate in musical expression and performance systems.

His major recognition:

• Golden Nica for Digital Music, Prix Ars Electronica (2008) for the Reactable instrument

Leading the Tangible Music Lab, Kaltenbrunner fosters interdisciplinary collaboration between artists, engineers, and musicians to prototype novel tangible interfaces. The lab serves as an experimental hub for developing next-generation musical instruments that challenge conventional digital-analog boundaries through postdigital approaches.