CARADT, the Centre of Applied Research for Art, Design and Technology at Avans, contributed to the program with three research-led workshops. Each workshop addressed societal challenges through the lens of creativity and critical imagination — a thematic focus that lies at the core of research conducted at CARADT.
How can artistic and design practices help us understand and shape the world?
Facilitated by Rob Leijdekkers, Renée van Oploo, and Professor Sebastian Olma, this workshop invited participants to explore how imagination, visual analysis, and open dialogue about the weird and the dirty could help to deepen our understanding of complex realities.
In what ways can AI and robotic interfaces reshape learning — physically, cognitively, and socially?
This workshop, led by Simone van den Broek, explored the role of artificial intelligence and robotic systems in education. Emphasising embodied learning, the workshop encouraged participants to rethink the design of learning environments they operate in, asking how these technologies might support novel and active forms of knowledge exchange.
What can the entanglement of urban and natural ecologies teach us in times of ecological crisis?
In an immersive film-based experience, researcher Ollie Palmer guided participants through a personalized version of Trees of Life, tailored to the participants. Trees of Life is a single-shot cinematic journey through the urban forest of Rotterdam. The session offered a space to reflect on how artistic and technological storytelling can make visible the entangled relations between nature, infrastructure, and human perception.
‘Our research group investigates the role artists, designers and cultural producers in general can play in developing the aesthetics and poetics of a desirable future.’
Sebastian Olma is professor Cultural and Creative Industries. He works for the Expertise Centre Art, Design and Technology.
‘As a result of my current research, I ask the students the questions “what is your work” and “what works for you.’
Rob Leijdekkers is a researcher at the Cultural and Creative Industries research group and a tutor at the Art & Research programme at St. Joost School of Art & Design.
‘Within my practice I create spaces for introspection while exploring ethical dilemmas. ’
In 2017, I graduated from St. Joost in Den Bosch, and I hold a Master’s in Applied Ethics from Utrecht University. Presently, I work as an artist, am an active member of the YAFF art collective, and concurrently serve as a lecturer.
‘The ultimate goal is to provide people with the information, skills and tools that enable them to improve the quality of their daily lives.’
Simone van den Broek is a researcher within the Situated Art, Design and Technology research group, and a tutor for the Communication & Multimedia Design programme at Avans University of Applied Sciences in Den Bosch.
‘How can the notion of the ‘script’ be used in a situated design practice? ’
Ollie Palmer is a researcher within the Situated Art, Design and Technology research group. He is also the Pathway Leader of the Situated Design master’s programme at the Master Institute of Visual Cultures.
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