Categories: Podcast

Design Talk 76. Placeful computing; Jared Ficklin, Chief Creative Technologist & founding partner, argodesign

Jared Ficklin’s approach of ‘think by making’ has led him to produce remarkable digital design work, often at the forefront of exploring new computing metaphors, from smartphones to spatial interfaces. In his conversation with MEX founder Marek Pawlowski, Jared gets to one of the big truths of the digital age: the major expansions in computing occur when a significant change in UI metaphor resonates with users. The discussion goes deeper, exploring everything from what it means to sustain successful design studio culture to Jared’s hopes for new forms of public transport.

It’s great to hear from listeners! You can get in touch with feedback, questions, guest suggestions or anything else @mexfeed on Twitter or email designtalk@mobileuserexperience.com.

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On this edition

Links

  • frog Design, where Jared worked and became a fellow.
  • Boston Dynamics, the robotics company mentioned by Jared.
  • Episode 5 of the MEX podcast, a discussion with Louisa Heinrich about robot relations, which might interest those keen on design issues relating to robots.
  • Episode 68 of the MEX podcast, when Marek spoke with Jared’s long-term collaborator Mark Rolston, including on themes related to placeful computing.
  • Magic Leap, the mixed reality computing platform which Jared and his design studio argodesign has been working on.
  • Microsoft’s Hololens, another mixed reality computing platform mentioned by Jared.
  • Multi-touchpoint experience design has been continuously examined within the MEX initiative since 2009 under MEX Pathway #2, an archive of which can be explored here.
  • Interactive Light, an experiment by argodesign, mentioned by Jared as an example of some of the studios air interface explorations.
  • Jared’s bio, in which he extols the virtues of ‘think by making’, part of argodesign’s creed.
  • Wire One, the urban cable system Jared has been working on for Austin.

About MEX Design Talk & how to get in touch

The podcast for the MEX community, interviewing UX pioneers, exploring emerging technologies, user behaviour and how to design better digital experiences.

Marek Pawlowski

Marek Pawlowski is the founder of MEX. Since 1995, he has focused the MEX business on helping digital industries to develop better, more profitable products through improved understanding of user behaviour with mobile devices and wireless networks. MEX is best known for its events, research and consulting, which balance commercial, technical and user insights to define the future of mobile user experience.

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