Mihai Nadin (born February 2, 1938, in Braşov, Romania) is a scholar and researcher in electrical engineering, computer science, aesthetics, semiotics, human-computer interaction (HCI), computational design, post-industrial society, and anticipatory systems.
Born in Braşov, Romania, Nadin was educated under the communist regime imposed after World War II.
He attended the Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich, studying for a post-doctoral degree ("Habilitierung") with Professor Dr. Wolfgang Stegmüller in Philosophy, Logic, and the Theory of Science.
Due to the interest of Europeans, especially of Germans under the aegis of Max Bense, Nadin was attracted to the work of the American polymath and philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce.
At the Rhode Island School of Design, Nadin made a name for himself as one of the first proponents, in the nation, of integrating computers in education.
Docent, a HyperCard based software program, was integrated in the CD-ROM for interactive learning.
The indexing of image, sound, navigation, and especially the possibility to produce an individualized record (through an integrated Notebook application) were unique at the time Based on the fact that play is serious work for the very young, Nadin initiated a program in Toy Design at SUNY - Fashion Institute of Technology to train designers to develop the minds of the very young through all the senses.