The object
David Mellis co-designed the original Arduino board and the approachable interface that connected it to physical-computing projects. Its open, low-cost manufactured hardware let a broad community build working devices with sensors, switches and motors, changing how students and designers prototype electronics.
01
What David did
Co-designed the original Arduino board and its hardware-software interface with the Ivrea founding team.
02
Why it matters
Arduino became a foundational maker platform, and its official history credits Mellis among the technical founders who brought their combined experience into the original board.
03
Living-status check
Arduino's current September 2025 founder page identifies Mellis as a co-founder, positive evidence he was alive in 2025.