Session type: Main Conference Talk

A formerly secret IBM-funded research project 0f 1978 was the earliest interactive design in arts education and was among the last and least known projects from the legendary designers Charles and Ray Eames. The game led viewers to recognize the styles of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters through random selection, simple interactions, and feedbacks ranging from "good guess" to "no way" for the response to a given work in a given artist being studied. A fascinating project from the dawn of interactive design and IA, the Art Game employed a combination of systematic structure with a hand-crafted behind-the-scenes information architecture to the traditionally "soft" subject of art connoisseurship. Never published until recently, this approach may inspire new applications in other areas involving visual discrimination and recognition.

Immersive technologies like augmented, virtual, and mixed reality are creating new intersections between the physical and digital worlds, and as digital experience designers and architects it is essential that we start to think beyond the screen. In this session we'll explore lessons learned by studying immersive design at Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece residence built on a waterfall. Wright coined the term “organic architecture” to describe a philosophy in which the environment and physical structures become a combined, unified experience. Topics covered will include how all of seven of our senses are engaged by our environments (including two senses we generally don’t consider in traditional UX design), learning to see the world and sketch like an architect, and techniques for low-fidelity physical prototyping that can substantially accelerate our production workflows. Whatever our role in crafting digital content, we have the opportunity to pioneer this new frontier, and learning fundamental concepts and techniques of architecture will help us design for physical and virtual environments that in turn become impactful and memorable experiences.

Designers, information architects, and researchers deserve a seat at the table, where they can shape and influence the strategic direction of the company. But what are the primary indicators that your organization is prepared to listen, change, and evolve? This presentation will address how design has established itself as a competitive business differentiator for those looking to strengthen their own arguments, but will focus on a series of questions, observations, and gut-checks to determine if your organization--and you--are ready to take action on exactly what you ask for.