Sensory and Embodied Futures: At the Intersection of Art, Design, and Technology

At the intersection of art, design, and technology, how might creative practices imagine futures grounded in care, embodiment, and multisensory experience rather than extraction or control? We shift the conversation from “intelligent” systems, which focus on efficiency, to “sensitive” systems that prioritize emotion, presence, and care.

This panel invites critical, speculative approaches leveraging interactive technologies that respond to users to reimagine how we sense, feel, and relate.

We welcome contributions across artistic and design practices, including wearable technologies, interactive web-based media, immersive media (VR/AR), speculative design, novel experiences through emerging technologies, installation art, creative coding, and AI‑driven systems. Whether through tangible artifacts, responsive environments, sensory interfaces, or virtual worlds, panelists will explore how technology can foster presence, empathy, and new forms of embodied relational experience.

Rather than positioning technology as a neutral tool of innovation, the works presented treat it as an active collaborator, fostering connection and deeper emotional engagement. These practices challenge dominant narratives of technological progress and propose alternative imaginaries where technology supports human vulnerability, creativity, and shared meaning.

By weaving together material exploration, artistic experimentation, and critical inquiry, this panel seeks to expand the discourse around sensory and embodied technologies, relational design, and future‑oriented practices at the convergence of art, design, artificial intelligence, and emerging media.