Description of the course
This workshop explores interfaces and devices. It focuses on both their graphical and technical dimensions: from user interfaces and screens to sensors, recognizers, and speculative design.
From a theoretical perspective, the workshop interrogates the meaning and communicative values of interfaces, artefacts, and devices.
From a practical standpoint, it adopts a research-creation approach. Participants engage in hands-on activities to produce digital creative projects that visualize and interpret their understanding of their environment.
Activities include lectures, workshops, and fieldwork.
Lectures are given by the host and invited renowned speakers from Spain, Argentina, and Australia.
Learning outcomes
Students from all backgrounds and disciplines are welcome.
The workshop fosters interdisciplinary collaboration through an environmental approach.
The aim is to design an experiment that combines water, interfaces, and digital media.
Placing water at the center of our method opens two pathways: 1) integrating water sources into common tools and methods; or 2) discovering new artefacts designed specifically for studying water.
By participating in this workshop, you will:
• Discover an artistic and design approach to interfaces in general, and water practices in particular.
• Develop digital creativity techniques.
• Develop a critical understanding of the meanings of technical objects and graphical interfaces.
• Express and represent environmental ideas through digital creative practices.
Assessment methods
Assessment is based on the production of a digital creative work.
Your task is to design and present an experiment that combines water, materials, and digital media.
You are expected to reinterpret our understanding of water and the environment through visual or digital modalities.
Evaluation criteria
- 30% Completion of workshop activities: Active participation and timely completion of Activities 1–4; collaboration, iteration, and basic documentation of process.
- 30% Presentation (Friday, 14:00): Short 5–8 minute presentation or demonstration of the project; articulation of concept and method; concise visuals; effective Q&A and timekeeping.
- 40% Digital creation:
- Interface: functional prototypes; creative works; speculative prototypes.
- Communication: the piece effectively conveys its message and interprets the theme of water.
- Craft & originality: quality of build, media integration, and thoughtful risk-taking.
- Documentation: brief statement + media (images/video) + technical notes.
Participants are encouraged to explore water sources in Paris or the Parisian region (rivers, fountains, canals, infrastructure) and to collect original assets and media (e.g., field recordings, photographs, video, datasets, samples) for use in the project, with proper credits and permissions.
ERUA will support the visit to Croisière du Canal Saint Martin.
Why You Should Apply:
Join an interdisciplinary, hands-on workshop where you’ll use creatively interfaces and digital media, think critically about water and the environment, and design a water-centered project. You’ll leave with a finished piece, documentation for your portfolio, and new collaborators.
Who can apply
This course is open to any ERUA master’s or PhD student and no previous specific knowledge is required. The course is particularly suited to those interested in digital creativity, interface design, environmental critical thinking.
How to apply
Your application should include:
- CV (please indicate, if possible, your Bachelor grades or at least your honors/average, so that we can better assess your academic level. The CV should also detail any relevant professional experiences, previous mobilities, etc.)
If you are interested, please submit your application by 10th November to the following address:
https://paris8.moveonfr.com/locallogin/660eb384386d1ea0ce0c5ad8/eng
If your application is accepted, you and your ERUA local team will be notified the 14th of November and if you are selected they will inform you about travel and accommodation funding.
If you have any other administrative questions about the course, please contact your local ERUA team at your university or Paris 8 local team (erua.eui@univ-paris8.fr).
Recommended bibliography
- Cubitt, Sean. Finite media: Environmental implications of digital technologies. Duke University Press, 2016.
• Dunne, Anthony, and Fiona Raby. Speculative everything: design, fiction, and social dreaming. MIT press, 2013.
• Bhowmik, Samir, and Jussi Parikka. “Environment, Data, Contamination”, 2023.
• White-Hancock, Lorraine. The Art and Science of Innovation: Transdisciplinary Work, Learning and Transgression. Springer Nature, 2023.
