Panel Discussion

Why does situatedness matter in exploring the dynamic relationship between art and information technology?

Although the concept of situatedness originated in feminist studies, it has since been widely adopted in the field of information technology. From Lucy Suchman’s groundbreaking work on the material and social circumstances of human–computer interaction to William J. Clancey’s situated approach to knowledge representation, the idea that the human mind is ontologically and functionally intertwined with environmental, social, and cultural factors has become broadly accepted.

However, aside from notable exceptions such as media artist Simon Penny, the significance of situatedness for the production and presentation of art—particularly in relation to information technology—remains underexplored. In this area, dominant practices continue to be defined by studio-based creation and white-cube exhibition formats.

This panel invites participants with backgrounds in interactive art, social computing, UX design and locative media games to highlight the rich tradition of situated approaches within information technology and to discuss their relevance to the ArtsIT community.

Michel van Dartel

Centre of Applied Research for Art, Design and Technology, Avans University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands

Bio:

Michel van Dartel (b.1976) is tenured Research Professor of Situated Art, Design and Technology at the Avans Centre of Applied Research for Art, Design and Technology (CARADT). He holds an MSc in cognitive psychology and a PhD in artificial intelligence, both from Maastricht University, and was affiliated with V2_Lab for the Unstable Media between 2005 and 2024. Alongside his work at CARADT, Van Dartel also acts as an independent curator and freelance advisor to art and design academies, presentation platforms, funding and governmental bodies.

Elizabeth Churchill

Dept Chair and Professor of Human Computer Interaction,
MBZUAI – Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, UAE

Bio:
Dr. Elizabeth F. Churchill is a recognized pioneer and global leader in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Social Computing.

An Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Fellow and former Vice President of both the ACM and ACM’s Special Interest Group on Human Computer Interaction (SIGCHI), she has consistently built bridges between abstract social science theory and large-scale commercial innovation. She is renowned for translating insights from psychology, cognitive science and work practice studies into actionable design principles for consumer and designer/developer products and platforms.

Her executive leadership in research at organizations including PARC, Yahoo Research, eBay, and Google has ensured that her human-centered design approach has had significant impact across a number of technical arenas.
Beyond product development, Churchill has been instrumental in setting standards, innovating research methods, and collaboratively establishing ethical governance of the global HCI and UX profession. As the founding department chair of the HCI Department at MBZUAI, her current work remains a critical link between academia and industry, focused on the practical, responsible design of complex systems and the emerging challenges of Human-AI Co-Design.
 
 
Eirini (Irene) Mavrommati
Professor, School of Applies Arts and Sustainable Design,
Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece
 
Bio:
Eirini (Irene) Mavrommati is a Design Professor at the School of Applied Arts and Sustainable Design of the Hellenic Open University. She directs the Master of Arts Programs: “Design of Visual Effects and Animation” (SOK) and “Graphic Arts – Multimedia” (GTP) and coordinates the GTP51 Thematic Unit: Graphic Design. She has previously worked for Computer Technology Institute CTI-Diofantos (Patra), Philips Design (Eindhoven), University of the Aegean, University of Patras. She is involved in user experience design, interaction design and graphical user interfaces, interactive applications, with a focus on end user development and pervasive computing experiences. She has coordinated competitively funded European FET research projects. She served as a board member in the Disappearing Computer Network, and founding member in Convivio Network and IoT council, among others. She has served as organizing committee in international networks events, exhibitions and conferences, and as invited editor in thematic issues of scientific journals. She participates in art and technology exhibitions with interactive installations, research prototypes and products. Her research work focusses on interacting with pervasive computing environments, design teaching, and the role of creative ideation in technological products creation.
 
Edwin van der Heide 
Leiden University, Netherlands
 
Bio:
Edwin van der Heide is an artist, composer and researcher in the field of sound, space and interaction. He extends musical composition and musical language into spatial, interactive and interdisciplinary directions. His work comprises installations, performances and environments. The audience is located in the middle of the work and challenged to actively explore and interact with the artwork.
Besides running his own studio he is part-time lecturer and researcher at Leiden University, involved in both the Leiden Institute for Advanced Computer Science (LIACS) including the Media Technology MSc programme, and the Academy for Creative and Performing Arts (ACPA). From 1995 till 2016 he was a lecturer at the ArtScience Interfaculty of the Royal Conservatoire and Royal Academy of Art in The Hague and co-heading the department from 2014-2016.
He has presented his work at renown museums, festivals, galleries and music venues as SMAK – Ghent, Ars Electronica Festival – Linz, Stedelijk Museum – Amsterdam, V2_’s DEAF – Rotterdam, ICC – Tokyo, NAMOC – Beijing, Transmediale – Berlin, SONAR – Barcelona, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, SFMOMA, FILE – Brazil, MAXXI – Rome, SONAMBIENTE – Berlin, Reina Sofia Museum – Madrid, ZKM – Karlsruhe, Art Basel Parcours Night and Donaueschinger Musiktage.
 
 
Vanessa Cesário

University of Madeira, Interactive Technologies Institute (ITI/LARSyS), Portugal

Bio:
Professor Vanessa Cesário is a specialist in Digital Media, with a strong academic background in communication and culture. She holds a PhD in Digital Media and completed a postdoctoral research project in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) applied to Cultural Heritage. She stands out for her ability to bridge theoretical knowledge with practical skills, preparing students for a constantly evolving communication landscape.

Her research focuses on HCI in cultural heritage contexts, particularly on how people engage with digital technologies—such as mobile applications, interactive exhibitions, and multimedia content (images, sound, and text). She explores participatory communication and design approaches as strategies to preserve and promote heritage through digital media. As a member of the Interactive Technologies Institute (ITI/LARSyS), she collaborates on international projects and actively contributes to scientific progress in her areas of expertise.
With a trajectory in the fields of Communication, HCI, and Cultural Heritage, Professor Vanessa Cesário encourages students to explore purposeful digital narratives, using digital tools critically and creatively.
In 2021, her doctoral thesis was awarded the distinction “Cum Laude” by the University of Porto. In 2024, she received the “Excellent Teaching Award” award from Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon. In 2025, she was featured in the book “Women in Science”, an initiative by Ciência Viva that celebrates the contributions of women to scientific advancement in Portugal.

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