Aesthetics of Interaction 2025
Fall 2025
Lecturer: Dr Roman Kirschner
roman.kirschner@zhdk.ch
ABSTRACT
This seminar proposes to investigate the aesthetics of interaction design by connecting theory and practice. Students will learn how to contextualise their practical projects within current discourses and reflect on how their design practice may transform their theoretical assumptions and knowledge. The students will examine relevant readings and concepts both through discussions and through their practical work. The theory seminar is connected with two studio courses, Soft Architecture and Interactive Visualisation.
The seminar will explore the aesthetics of interaction including topics such as ecological design, performative experimentation, public interventions, spatial and political design, speculative design, bio design, data literacy, surveillance capitalism and AI. We will address these aesthetics from the perspective of their origins, cultural contexts and case studies.
COURSE OUTLINE
The class usually takes place on Mondays, from 15.00-16.45, (with exceptions during the parallel seminar Soft Architecture!). Classes 4-11 take place on Zoom. In each session 2-3 students will give a presentation: based on readings. The presentations are followed by a discussion and/or an in-class assignment. At the end of the course an exam will be held.
EXPECTATIONS AND GRADING
Grades will be based on the oral and written presentations, on class participation and on the final exam. Contributing to constructive group feedback is an essential aspect of class participation. Regular attendance is required.
Readings-based presentation 30%
Class participation 30%
Final exams 40%
ASSIGNMENTS
Oral presentations
Students must independently prepare lectures on selected texts of the week. These can be presented in different formats.
Possible presentation formats are:
Classic Slides presentation
Live sketching
Demo with prototyping
etc.
The reading-based presentation must include a 2-pages written discussion, made available to the class and instructor via EMAIL three days prior to the day of the class to ensure a general discussion!
The paper should include title, author, date, context, summary, bibliography.
Additional sources can be added to inform the discussion if necessary.
The reading-based presentation should include answers to these questions: who are the authors? where do they work? what concepts do they propose? what year was the document published? what was the context at the time of publication? what are other contemporary theorists and practitioners perspectives on the authors proposal? what influence did the proposal have? what was your research process to go over your findings? how can you apply the proposed ideas in your design work or others' design work? how can you challenge the ideas presented? - The presentation should be 15 minutes.
All presentation materials (slides, handouts incl. 2-pages written discussion) have to be uploaded to the server (smb://fileredu.ad.zhdk.ch/DDE/BDE_VIAD/01_ABGABEN/24_HS/Sem3_Aesthetics_of_Interaction) in the respective folders indicating the number of the class, the name of the class and your name.
Exam
The exam is structured in two parts:
1) A multiple choice test about key concepts of the texts discussed in class.
2) Two free theory-grounded argumentation questions about overarching topics dealt with in the course.
COURSE MATERIALS
Readings for each session are made available on PAUL.
Additional readings can be proposed to underline a particular aspect and should be considered.
CALENDAR overview
Class 1 - 15.09. - Introduction (4.T08)
Class 2 - 15.09. - Spaces and Atmospheres (4.T08)
Class 3 - 24.09. - Bodies and Ideals in Interaction Design (4.T08)
Class 4 - 02.10. - Material and Environmental Dynamics (4.T08)
(break: week of Soft Architecture end presentation)
Class 5 - 13.10. - Anthropocene
Class 6 - 20.10. - Wavescapes
Class 7 - 27.10. - Services and Infrastructure
(break: week of AI & Robotics end presentation)
Class 8 - 10.11. - Introduction to data and data literacy
Class 9 - 17.11. - Generative Artificial Intelligence
Class 10 - 24.11. - Data, Democracy and Surveillance Capitalism
Class 11 - 01.12. - Exam
DESCRIPTION of the TOPICS and texts of the individual CLASSES
Class 1 - 15.9. - Introduction (4.T08)
Introduction to the course, explanation and organisation of tasks/dates
Class 2 - 15.09. - Spaces and Atmospheres (4.T08)
Böhme, Gernot (2017). "What is the space of bodily presence?". In Atmospheric Architectures: The Aesthetics of Felt Spaces. 86-95.
in class reading and discussion
Class 3 - 24.09. - Bodies and Ideals in Interaction Design (4.T08)
Readings:
a) Hartmann, Klemmer, Takayama (2006). "How Bodies Matter: Five Themes for Interaction Design". In DIS 2006.
b) Höök, Kristina and Löwgren, Jonas (2020). "Characterizing Interaction Design by its Ideals: A Discipline in Transition." In She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation. 7(1): 24-40.
presented by ???
Class 4 - 02.10. - Material and Environmental Dynamics (4.T08)
Readings:
a) Pickering, Andrew (2013). "Being in an environment: a performative perspective". Natures Sciences Sociétés 21: 77-83.
b) Ingold, Tim. (2008). "Bringing Things to Life. Creative Entanglements in a World of Materials".
presented by ???
Class 5 - 13.10. - Anthropocene
Readings:
a) Boes, Tobias (2014). "Beyond Whole Earth: Planetary Mediation and the Anthropocene". Environmental Humanities (2014) 5 (1): 155–170.
b) Internet and Energy:
I) Gombiner, Joel (2011). "Carbon Footprinting the Internet.“ In Consilience: The Journal of Sustainable Development. 5: 119-124.
II) Andreu, Javier F. et al. (2022). "Big data on a dead planet. The digital transition's neglected environmental impacts."
(ATLAS of AI - Environment?)
presented by ???
Class 6 - 20.10. - Wavescapes
Readings:
a) Hosokawa, Shuhei (1984). "The Walkman Effect". In Popular Music. 4. Performers and Audiences. 165-180.
b) Helmreich, Stefan (2007) “An Anthropologist Underwater: Immersive Soundscapes, Submarine Cyborgs, and Transductive Ethnography”. In American Ethnologist, Vol. 34, No. 4. 621-641.
presented by ???
Class 7 - 27.10. - Services and Infrastructure
Readings:
a) Starosielski, Nicole (2012). "Warning: Do Not Dig: Negotiating the Visibility of Critical Infrastructures." Journal of Visual Culture. 11(1): 38–57.
b) Bria, Francesca (2015). “EuroStack – A European Alternative for Digital Sovereignty”. Bertelsmann Stiftung. 20-41. (choose and introduce 3 points from section 2 as well)
presented by ???
Class 8 - 10.11. - Introduction to data and data literacy
Readings:
a) Economist (2017). "The world’s most valuable resource is no longer oil, but data". The Economist: New York, NY, USA.
b) Barrowman, Nick (2018). "Why data is never raw". The New Atlantis, Summer/Fall edition: 129-135.
presented by ???
Class 9 - 17.11. - Generative Artificial Intelligence
Readings:
a) Russell, Stuart and Nerving Peter. "Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach", 4th ed. Extract from Introduction and conclusion.
b) Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin of the Institute of Humane Technology: "The AI dilemma". Youtube video of lecture in San Francisco on March 9th, 2023.
presented by ???
Class 10 - 24.11. - Data, Democracy and Surveillance Capitalism
Readings:
a) Zuboff, Shoshana (2015) "Big other: surveillance capitalism and the prospects of an information civilization". Journal of Information Technology 30: 75–89.
b) Ryser, Daniel and Sprenger, Ramona (2023) "Do not feed the google", news report in 10 parts on republik.ch
presented by ???
Class 11 - 01.12. - Exam