Connection Centered Design is my research project set out to define the right design philosophy for the age of AI. By examining the current state of human connection, mapping out the forces that influence it, and digging into what healthy human connection looks like, I hope to define a set of design principles that help it thrive.
New Companions: Coming of age in the era of machine intelligence (Dazed Studio)
Alongside five other experts, I was interviewed by Dazed Studio for a report exploring how young people’s relationships with AI companions, gaming worlds, virtual reality, and social media are reshaping human interaction and transforming cultural participation and consumption.
The New Fan-Idol Dynamics in an Era of AI and Spatial Computing
Back in 2023, I speculated about how the arrival of advanced AI and spatial computing technologies is going to change how fans engage with their beloved characters and personalities. The deck provides sports, music and entertainment companies with strategic recommendations for building experiences for this new era of fan-idol dynamics.
Democratised access to idols is putting power in fans’ hands (Mediacat)
After exploring how AI and spatial computing could transform future fan–idol relationships, I shifted focus to what’s already changing today. In this piece for MediaCat, I looked at how democratised access – from social platforms to AI and mixed reality – is putting more power in fans’ hands, and what that means for brands and talent navigating this new dynamic.
Smart glasses are coming. But will we ever embrace them as everyday wear? (Decode Magazine)
When Apple Vision Pro was announced, a future where smart glasses replace our phones got a bit more real. In this piece for Decode Mag, I explored what would make the smart-glasses form factor desirable enough that we’d actually wear them – consistently and in public.
Virtual influencers are reshaping social media – for real, this time (Decode Magazine)
Virtual influencers used to feel like a gimmick, but in 2023, YouTube reported that more than half of people they surveyed have watched content by a VTuber. In this piece for Decode Mag, I looked at why brands are investing in synthetic personas, and why audiences are buying in.
