Agents of Transformation is a platform for systemic changes through arts and design, connecting the next generation with decision makers in politics and industry.
Platform
The current discourse on human computer interaction is driven be ergonomic and economic questions and ignores the cultural, historical, political and artistic dimensions of the interface. The interdisciplinary academic platform hosts an international discourse that critically questions the cultural impact, conditions and contingencies of our technological environment, services and applications.
Interfaces – graphic, voice, touch – are omnipresent and the most dominant medium of the 21st century. But the paradigms that inform current design and product decisions are often based on outdated mechanistic and techno-progressive conceptions of the 20th century. Their impact on our culture and our world perception is profound and they foster deeply corrosive business models based on human attention and potentially endanger both social fabric and individual wellbeing.
To develop perspectives beyond current business models and service designs, different disciplines and approaches are brought together to broaden the discourse and create diversity.
Theoretical and artistic reflection extends the dialogue on social, political, aesthetic and philosophical implications – and paves the way for new approaches to design paradigms and business models.
Since its foundation, the platform has become home to an international discourse that critically questions the conditions and contingencies of our technological environment from interdisciplinary perspectives and has been supported by numerous scientific institutions.
The platform runs an annual Open Access Journal with different editorial topics and a Book Series for longer single author positions, which are also both available as print on demand. The journal features academic articles, practitioner interviews and artistic works and expands the discourse on interfaces.