Shapeshift 2024–25

September 13, 2024

In our first salon, we sought to understand how design can enable useful and valuable technologies for a range of democracies and cultures, including First Nations and Indigenous cultures.

Globally, we have seen that democracy is being threatened. Recently, because of COVID and the New Zealand election, questions surrounding sources of ‘authentic’ information have escalated, and New Zealanders found themselves questioning their reality.

So, will AI turbocharge or cripple democracy? Purposefully designed AI models can use unstructured datasets to help represent citizens’ views equally, with transparency. But who owns these models and what data are they trained on? Does the AI model truly represent people in an equitable way? These are just some of the questions we uncovered at our Auckland Salon.

Speakers Included:

• Roger Dennis, Foresight Consultant 

• Hamish Friedlander, Head of Engineering and AI, Rush Digital 

• Chelsea Pratt, Design Lead, ThoughtFull 

• Alaina Luxmoore, Director of Marketing, Rush Digital 

• Anijo Mathew, Dean, Institute of Design at Illinois Tech 

• Albert Shum, Former CVP of Design, Microsoft 

• Geoff Suvalko, Founder and Partner, ThoughtFull 

• Terry Williams-Willcock, Chief Customer Officer, Rush Digital 

Co-Hosted by Rush Digital, ThoughtFull, and the Designers Institute of New Zealand

October 3, 2024

In Tokyo, we consider mental wellbeing and mental trauma with the objective of prototyping key interventions we can embed into our systems.

Mental health is a serious issue around the world. In Japan, mental health is becoming a particularly serious problem, as evidenced through the high suicide rate (18 percent in Japan vs. 9 percent  global average) and the ever-increasing number of people with mental illness (2002: 2.5 million vs. 2020: 6.2 million).

We can characterize this mental health epidemic as a wicked problem, a systemic issue that is exposed as a problem due to the complex intertwining of factors at all levels, from micro to meso to macro, including the work environment, economic system, education system, changes in family structure, access to medical care, and social and cultural stigma.

How can we reduce the trauma created by relationships among people and enhance wellbeing by looking at this issue from a systems perspective?

We will discuss these questions and prototype key interventions that use AI and can be embedded into new systems.

Speakers Include:

• Yosuke Kurashima, CEO of Focus On Inc.

• Akane Mitsuyama, Planner, Urban Affairs Division, Nikken Sekkei Co. 

• Kunitake Saso, CEO and Founder, Biotope 

• Albert Shum, former CVP of Design, Microsoft

• Yusuke Suzuki, Akihabara Save Clinic

• Kazumasa (Kevin) Yamada, Strategic Designer, BIOTOPE 

Co-Hosted by Biotope and Nikken Sekkei

October 7, 2024

In Pune, we consider how to engage AI to empower marginalized communities, bridge digital divides, and unlock new avenues for skill acquisition and economic empowerment.

With its vast population and diverse socioeconomic landscape, India represents a microcosm of the global challenges and opportunities we face in achieving inclusive growth and skill development. India has a substantial informal/unorganized labor sector which comprises millions of workers, including street vendors, construction laborers, and domestic helpers. Such a situation requires an inclusive approach to skills development.

By leveraging AI, India can pave the way for innovative solutions that empower these marginalized communities. Large language models could provide on-demand skills training and troubleshooting guidance in vernacular languages—for example, enabling a newly trained Marathi-speaking plumber to learn advanced techniques or diagnosing issues using voice commands on their mobile phone. AI could also create personalized learning content tailored to informal sector workers’ specific needs and contexts, enhancing their skills acquisition and problem-solving abilities.

Speakers Include:

• Sanjay Dhande, Former Director of Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

• Dinanath Kholkar, Professor of Practice, COEP Tech University, former SVP and Global Head of Partner Ecosystems and Alliances at Tata Consultancy Services

• Amit Kundal, Associate Dean, FLAME University 

• Pradnya Godbole, Centre for Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Development and CEO of deAsra Foundation 

• Anijo Mathew, Dean, Institute of Design at Illinois Tech 

• Ravi Mahamuni, Principal Scientist and Head of Design Research at Tata Consultancy Services 

• Aman Mittal, Indian Administrative Services

• Chaitanya Nadkarni, Director of Digital and Technology Lead, Pfizer India 

• Sameer Rawal, Social Innovation Consultant at Tata Consultancy Services 

Co-Hosted by FLAME University and Tata Consultancy Services

November 13, 2024

Leaders who are at the center of moving AI capabilities into media, publishing, and knowledge tools explore how can make this transition responsibly. We consider how AI is already changing media and information consumption, what we are learning through the design of new AI tools, the risks and concerns of using AI in media, and potential future directions. 

Speakers Include:

• Daisy Alioto, CEO, Dirt

• Yosef Johnson, SVP, Head of VOX Creative, VOX Media

• Robin Kwong, Director of Product Management and Data Services, Yahoo News 

• Jun Lee, GEMIC Consulting 

• Anijo Mathew, Dean, Institute of Design at Illinois Tech 

• Judd Morgenstern, Partners Resolute

• Albert Shum, Advisor to the Dean, ID and former CVP of Design, Microsoft 

Co-Hosted by Microsoft, Steelcase, and ID Alumni

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