Magdalena Garmaz was born in Split, Croatia. After receiving degree in architecture from Zagreb University, and practicing for few years, she did her graduate studies in history and theory of architecture at the University of Cincinnati. She has been teaching at Auburn since 1990. Her classes include design studios and theory and history classes and seminars.

Magdalena’s recent research deals with the relationship of textiles and architecture. Magdalena has been studying this both in a theoretical way (through writing: on different textile techniques and Gottfried Semper’s theories) and applied manner (creating a series of design studio and seminar exercises such as Weaving Studio, Soft Boundaries Studio, and Silkworm/Body Cocoon studio).
The work from one of these studios has been featured in the Metropolis magazine (Project Helps Students Rethink Material World, Sustainable Metropolis, April 2004).

Magdalena has presented her work in a number of regional and national conferences. She has also studied, and lectured on, work of the Slovenian architect Joze Plecnik.
She has received number of grants, including Graham Foundation Grant.

Magdalena uses her set designs as a way of testing textiles in different space-making contexts.