As artificial intelligence permeates more facets of our daily lives, our interactions become increasingly digitized, abstracted, and depersonalized.  Smart assistants, like Google Home and Alexa, have attempted to bring back a layer of humanity to these experiences, but lack a physical presence. What if we explored smart assistants that understood or related to our emotional state vs. just for a functional outcome?

This studio will explore the emotive possibility of digital companionship. Students will design a smart object using the household object of a lamp. Just as electrical lighting technology altered people's lives historically and allowed them to extend daylight hours for work, reading etc, our goal will be to imagine how the light can once again be a vehicle for altering lives of those around them.