This research practices a critical approach to collaborative design making and speculates how present technologies shift future possibilities where interactions and exchanges are limited to those mediated by technological devices.

Through a series of investigations, a collaborative, critical making process is prioritized over the final artifacts. The investigations consider and address the social and technological implications of how remote collaborative-making, mediated by augmented technical tools, might (1) foster new ways of thinking and making through play and experimentation (2) affect social interactions and empower people to become producers (3) affect relationships between collaborators and the technologies in use through transparent processes. This presentation shares the outcomes of our investigations, based on participant data collected through qualitative and quantitative measures.

To read the full paper, click here.

This paper and presentation was prepared in collaboration with Associate Professor of Graphic Design, Rebecca Tegtmeyer, Michigan State University.