Machine Learning for Speculative Futures Workshop

Last spring, I  led a workshop at The Maryland Institute College of Art focusing on Machine Learning + Interface Design. Using a modified version of Stuart Candy’s Thing from the Future game, students were asked to design for the future:

“Imagine for a moment that you fell asleep and woke up in a strange future. Now imagine that you are asked to design a special machine learning powered feature appropriate to that new world….”

After a brief lecture, students worked in groups to storyboard a predicative feature for a speculative new world in three simple frames. Workshop included brainstorming, sketching, storyboarding and discussion—and featured by Machine L:earning cards as tools. 

Learning outcome: Understand how we might harness machine learning through what we make.