Academic Mindtrek is a multidisciplinary conference organized annually in Tampere. The event fosters collaboration by bringing together participants from diverse fields, including academia, startups, companies, and governmental institutions, encouraging the exchange of ideas across different domains. Practical applications of research are emphasized, allowing participants to explore how innovative concepts can be translated into real-world solutions. The conference, therefore, acts as a bridge between academic findings and industry needs, encouraging out-of-the-box thinking and offering networking opportunities.
The doctoral researchers of CONVERGENCE participated in the conference in multiple ways. Abby Ruranko, Aska Mayer, and Hsiao-Chun Lin served as conference chairs. Abby was also a co-chair for two industry panels: “Into the Metaverse: A New Digital Frontier” and “AI in Action: Shaping Tomorrow.”
CONVERGENCE doctoral researcher Linas Kristupas Gabrielaitis was one of the organizers of the workshop “The Deep Body: Exploring Users’ Insides Through Design Fiction“. The workshop focused on how design can engage with the internal, layered dimensions of users’ bodies, both literally and metaphorically. Overall, the workshop aimed to inspire innovative and speculative ideas that challenge traditional views of the body in design.
On the presentation side, special congratulations to CONVERGENCE researcher Tippayaporn “Anns” Pavavimol, who, together with Katja Heiskanen, won the Best Presentation Award for their presentation titled “Focus at Play: Exploring Gamification through a Case Study of Narrative-Based Focus Apps”.
