Shaping Human-AI Relationships – Exploring the Design Space through Performative Methods

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies become embedded in our everyday life, the way we design human-AI interactions directly shapes how these systems are perceived and understood. This five-day workshop „Shaping Human–AI Relationships – Exploring the Design Space through Performative Methods“, held during HfG Schwäbisch Gmünd’s international seminar week in summer 2024, explored how performative, experimental methods can support the reflective design of these interactions.

Through roleplay, improvisation, and object-centered perspectives, students engaged with the social and ethical dimensions of AI systems. The workshop began with Acting Out AI Systems [1], where students embodied elements of a sensor-based AI system to understand basic technical concepts. The following sessions introduced methods such as Thing Ethnography [2], Object Persona [3], and Techno-Mimesis [4], shifting focus from user-centered design to the perspective of the AI system itself.

A custom Slot Machine was used to generate randomized interaction scenarios, prompting students to examine the influence of system behavior on user experience and ethical implications.

In the final phase, students applied their insights to create speculative AI systems—ranging from critical reflections to solution-oriented proposals—culminating in an exhibition.

Designed as a low-threshold, practice-based introduction to AI, the workshop balanced conceptual exploration with accessible engagement, using performative methods to address technical complexity without requiring prior technical expertise.