On Saturday, 6 October, the research platform organised a designathon where three types of expertise came together: students with a background in a STEM discipline, art students, and teacher training students. The event took place at the thought-provoking exhibition ROBOT LOVE in Eindhoven.

During the designathon, students worked in mixed design groups to solve a challenge inspired by the artwork E.E.G. Kiss by artist duo Lancel en Maat. The challenge was: “How can we use technology to enhance or share tenderness between people?”

Artists Lancel and Maat were present to explain their work and guide the students through the design process. The designathon itself was led by experience designer Ellis Bartholemeus on behalf of Designathon Works.

After an introduction and a tour of the exhibition, the students developed their designs during two working sessions. In a testing round, they presented their designs to fellow students and mentors, receiving questions and critical feedback. The day concluded with a presentation of all the designs. The outcomes were highly diverse, ranging from a tender bus shelter that moves people towards each other via a conveyor belt to an interactive beanbag that responds to students' touch.

The research platform, in collaboration with Emer Beamer of Designathon Works, is preparing a publication to share the results and methodology of the designathon. The publication will be available online soon.

The ROBOT LOVE exhibition is open until 2 December at the Campina Melkfabriek in Eindhoven.