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===Hackers & Designers Summer Academy 2016===
===Hackers & Designers Summer Academy 2016===


Title: If you are so smart why are you so poor?     
Slogan: '''If you are so smart why are you so poor?'''      


Subtitle: At work. About immaterial labor, digital economies and techno-societies.  
Title: '''At work. About immaterial labor, digital economies and techno-societies.'''


Date: July 25th - August 5th 2016  
Date: July 25th - August 5th 2016  


Location: De PUNT (1st block), WAAG (2nd block), Weekend excursion: Rotterdam, End presentation and lecture night De PUNT (?),  
Location: De PUNT (1st block), WAAG (2nd block), end presentation and lecture night De PUNT (?),  




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===Introduction===


''status: to be edited''
Hackers & Designers (H&D) is a non-profit cross-disciplinary community of professional technologists,
designers, and artists. During the summer of 2016 Hackers & Designers will invite an international
curated group of ambitious participants to learn by creating, researching, and discussing.
After a successful first edition in 2015, 2016’s summer academy will be developed in close collaboration
with Waag Society. The program will be stirred by the title and curatorial framework ‘At work.
If you are so smart why are you so poor.’ The methodical emphasize will lie on a hands-on approach
to learning.
During the 10 day program the participants will be equipped with a cross-disciplinary vocabulary
and the necessary scope to make more informed and ethical decisions.


===What?===
===Why===


''If you are so smart why are you so poor?'' The second edition the Hackers & Designers Summer Academy 2016 will explore controversies around the topic of immaterial labor, and the effects digital economies have on our current techno-society.
Designers and artists, in a world moving more and more digital, should be empowered with the tools
of the digital realm including coding and hardware usage and construction. Conversely technologists
should be more comfortable and effective in engaging in creative processes through familiarity with
the vocabulary of designers and artists. All disciplines should become more comfortable in theoretical
and social discourse, and thus be asking questions such as not only “can we” but “should we”.
Title: At work. If you are so smart why are you so poor?
In order to bring the diverse disciplines together in a meaningful way the program will be center
around the controversial topic of immaterial labor, and the effects digital economies have on our
current techno-society, – a crucial and on-going discussion at stake in both design/art and developer
practices. H&D invites this year’s summer academy participants to go into discussion and critically
reflect on their (digital) activities that exist outside/alongside the traditional wage-based definition of
labor. What does it mean for the future of our practices to contribute to creative commons and open
source projects, to self-initiate, to organize communities, to promote and publish on social networks,
to perpetually generate content, to evolve multiple identities as bloggers, vloggers, mojo contributors
(mobile journalism)…?
Approach: Hands-on, DIY (Do it yourself) and DIT (Do it together)
During the 10 day program the participants will get equipped with a cross-disciplinary vocabulary and
approach and the necessary scope to make informed and ethical decisions.
Concepts like encryption, crypto-currencies, post-scarcity, deep/dark webs, etc. will be addressed in
a workshop manner. The hands-on approach and the challenges that come with making as opposed
to talking will stay central throughout the whole program.
H&D believes that in order to develop a deeper understanding of the qualities and disadvantages of
technology we need to look inside the black boxes of the technology that we heavily rely on in our
daily physical and digital, and our private and professional lives. Therefore we urge the participants
of the summer academy to open the box, look inside it, rummage through it or even make their own
boxes.
Approach: Collaboration
Technologists will, contrary to convention, be invited to engage at the very beginning of the creative
process. Similarly the designers and artists will be invited to experiment and engage with unfamiliar
and deeper technological concepts with which they may not be immediately equipped. It is through
Aanvraag e-culture: Hackers & Designers Summer Academy 2016
2
the collaborative approach where common vocabulary and understanding will arise, and be available
in future endeavors beyond the Summer Academy.


===Who?===
===What===


Hackers & Designers is a non-profit cross-disciplinary community of programmers, engineers, designers, and artists. H&D started in 2013 and has been organizing meetups where collaborative and inclusive workshops (1-3 hours) are given. In 2015 H&D successfully launched the first edition of the Hackers & Designers Summer Academy. About Bugs, Bots & Bytes.
The summer academy will include international participants from both student and professional pursuits
to build relationships and investigate new technologies and design media, which will jump start
not only the academic careers in case of students, but also enrich existing and future professional
careers with more technological tools, unique collaboration opportunities, a cross-disciplinary vocabulary,
and an understanding of tech and design tools, all in a social and inclusive environment.
Each day of the summer academy will be carefully programmed and structured with workshops,
experimentation, and learning. During the workshops the participants will be challenged to use and
push the boundaries of existing technology and programming platforms (web, hardware, software),
networks online/offline (internet, peer 2 peer, beacons), and user experience (apps, web, installations,
sensory organs), all in a practical manner as well as in regards to the content and ethical consequences.


The summer academy will include participants from both student and professional pursuits to build relationships and investigate new technology and design mediums which will jump start not only the academic careers in case of students, but also existing and future professional careers with more technological tools, more collaboration opportunities, a cross-disciplinary vocabulary, and an understanding of tech and design tools, all in a, social and inclusive evironment.
===Progam===


Designers and artists, in a world moving more and more digital, should be empowered with the tools of the digital realm including coding and hardware usage and construction. Conversely programmers and makers should be more comfortable and effective in engaging in creative process through familiarity with the vocabulary of designers and artists. All disciplines should become more comfortable in theoretical and social discourse, and thus be asking questions such as not only “can we” but “should we”.
The program will be divided in two blocks of each 5 days. Both program blocks fall under the
thematic umbrella ‘At work’.
The first block Soft work has a focus on software construction along side looking at soft concepts
including soft money, soft intelligence, soft power, soft or informal forms of organization of work etc.
while taking place at De PUNT. The second block Hard work focuses on Hardware construction along
hard concepts like hard money, hard data, hard labor, etc., while taking place at the Fablab of Waag
Society.
The two blocks complement each other in terms of taught technical skills and in regards to the
content. Participants can apply for one of the two blocks or for the full program. All workshops will
be accessible for both the tech-savvy and newbie nerds.


===Why?===
====Block 1 Soft work:====
July 25th-July 30th 2016


Being inevitably part of a larger group of stakeholders of the immaterial labor discourse and knowledge based economies Hackers & Designers invites this year's summer academy participants to critically reflect on their (digital) activities that exist outside/alongside the traditional wage-based consideration of labor.  These labor-intensive actions include: contributions to creative commons and open source, self-initiated research projects, community organization, social networking, blogging, vlogging, and mojo (mobile journalism)…


A lot of this labor is happening in and around digital and internet technology and at the same time enabled by the same technology. This creates a strange feedback loop of exponential proportions that makes understanding, legislating, and evolving innovative solutions extremely difficult. (Editors note: Example?) New concepts like encryption, crypto-currency, post-scarcity, deep/dark webs, etc., arise in dated and slow to change hierarchical social, corporate, legal, and political constructs.
Curated by H&D, taking place at De PUNT, Frans de Wollantstraat 84, Amsterdam


Participants in this edition of the summer academy are likely already or soon will be laboring to push the design and execution of these technologies and social constructs to the next step of their evolution, but are currently ill-equipped with the necessary scope to make intelligent ethical decisions.
Mode of production: hands-on!


How should we approach the employment of encryption which is crucial for opposition under dictatorial regimes, but at the same time makes dark-net markets like Silk Road possible?  How does one most effectively assist the elderly?  How can one compensate laboring immigrants living outside the scope of traditional employment and taxation frameworks?  How much labor is one willing to give to corporate enterprises such a Facebook for free access to platforms?  How long can one labor for shelter/housing in an overpriced market before the pain of lack of pension contributions is felt?
Workshopping, wire framing, software development & prototyping, designing, discussion


Over the course of 10-days and by means of hands-on workshops Hackers & Designers will create an environment where participants will collaborate to build, sketch & prototype evocative projects in order to discuss and demonstrate scenarios that reimagine labor, economy and society of the future.


----
====Block 2 Hard work====
 
August 1st-5th 2016
===Approach: Learning by Making===
 
H&D functions as a proxy between developers and artists/designers. We believe designers and artists, should be empowered with the tools of the digital realm including coding and hardware usage and construction. Conversely programmers and makers should be more comfortable and effective in engaging in a creative process through familiarity with the vocabulary of designers and artists. All disciplines should become more comfortable in theoretical and social discourse, and thus be asking questions such as “should we” instead of only “can we”.
   
 
==1st workshop week: Soft work==
''Curated by H&D, taking place at De PUNT, Frans de Wollantstraat 84, Amsterdam''
 
Key words:
*forms of organization of work  
*participation
*productivity
*communities
*exchange
*immaterial labor
*gender inequality
*informal economies
*crypto currency
*blockchain
*stock exchange, algorithmic trading, tax havens, …
*investments, shares, …
*digital labor, affective labor (youtubers),
*collaborative human interpreter [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collaborative_human_interpreter]]
*knowledge economies, …
*the contemporary geopolitical net sphere,…
*neural nets,… 
 
===Program===
 
Sunday evening
 
Welcome dinner participants & tutors, by Guerrilla Kitchen
 
 
'''Workshop week 1 part 1:'''
 
H&D asked Freecoin and Bitcave to develop a workshop individually but hopefully feed each others results in meaningful ways. Both workshops will address the possibilities of „organizing immaterial & community economies“. The results of the workshop should be design proposals informed by technology & prototypes. The case of consideration is the community of members of We are Here and Hack your Future.
 
 
Monday
 
Morning: Freecoin
 
Lunch guest: We Are Here
 
Afternoon: Bitcave (alternative PWR or Simone Niquille)
 
 
Tuesday
 
Morning: Freecoin
 
Lunch guest: Hack your Future
 
Afternoon: Bitcave (alternative PWR or Simone Niquille)
 
Wednesday
 
Finishing up projects Freecoin and Bitave are present throughout the whole day for consultation
 
Evening: Presentations & (selected guests are invited) Metahaven will be there to review and critically reflect on the results
 
 
'''Workshop week 1 part 2:'''
 
Thursday
 
Moniker (alternative: Roel Roscam Abbing & someone else)
 
Evening: Movie night curated by Jeffrey Babcock
 
 
'''Workshop week 1 part 3:'''


Friday
Curated by Waag Society & Hackers & Designers,taking place at Waag Society’s Fablab, Nieuwmarkt 4 Amsterdam


Darsha Hewitt (alternative: Center for Genomic Gastronomy)
Research question: Does smart technology makes us dumb?


 
Workshopping: Make an animate machine (bezielde machine)
Weekend activity: Rotterdam excursion
 
Saturday
Optional: Excursion (Something with Worm or V2?: Rotterdam tour with some evening program?)
 
 
Sunday: Free
 
 
 
Modes of production: hands-on!
Workshopping, wire framing, software development & prototyping, designing, discussing
 
==2nd workshop week: Hard work==
''Curated by Waag Society & Hackers & Designers, taking place at Waag Society’s Fablab, Nieuwmarkt 4 Amsterdam''
 
'''Planning: August 1 till August 5'''
 
1 day workshop & lecture
   
4 days DIY lab at the workspace and Fablab of Waag Society
 
Key words:
*The Internet of Things
*Post-industrialization
*Waste-reducing products
*Smart houses, smart products, networked sex toys,…
*Problematics of machine-learning processes
*Robotization of society
*A new „intelligence’ of a new physical world
*Artificial intelligence


Modes of production: hands-on!
Modes of production: hands-on!
Workshopping, hard-ware hacking, discussion
 
===Program===
'''Make machines work for you!'''
De IBM computer Deep Blue die het opneemt tegen schaakgrootmeester Gary Kasparov. En wint. Of een pc die de beste menselijke spelers van het tv-spel Jeopardy met gemak wegspeelt. De systemen die we creëren worden steeds slimmer. Is het tijd voor bankhangen? Kunnen we het werk overlaten aan de slimme machine? Van 1 tot en met 5 augustus experimenteren we in het Fablab met slimme technologie en oplossingen die ons leven 'makkelijker' maken. We’ll experiment with (open) technology; electronics, programming, Arduinos and digital fabrication in and around the Fablab. We’ll make sure the workshop is accessible for both the tech-savvy and newbie nerds.
===Hard Work references===
A '''Rube Goldberg machine''' is a contraption, invention, device or apparatus that is deliberately over-engineered to perform a simple task in a complicated fashion, generally including a chain reaction. The expression is named after American cartoonist and inventor Rube Goldberg (1883–1970).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg_machine
'''Artificial Intelligence for Robotics'''<br />
Programming a Robotic Car<br />
Learn how to program all the major systems of a robotic car from the leader of Google and Stanford’s autonomous driving teams. This class will teach you basic methods in Artificial Intelligence, including: probabilistic inference, planning and search, localization, tracking and control, all with a focus on robotics. Extensive programming examples and assignments will apply these methods in the context of building self-driving cars.
This course is offered as part of the Georgia Tech Masters in Computer Science. The updated course includes a final project, where you must chase a runaway robot that is trying to escape!<br />
https://www.udacity.com/course/artificial-intelligence-for-robotics--cs373
'''Useless machine'''
A useless machine is a device that performs a mostly useless task, such as switching itself off, and performs no other practical function. Such a device may be a novelty toy, an amusing engineering "hack", or the focus of an existentialist philosophical discussion.<br />
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useless_machine<br />
The Ultimate Machine/Useless Machine was created by Claude Elwood Shannon (the inventor of the word "bit")<br />
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ34RDn34Ws
'''Mechanical Turk'''
An expression used for machines or devices that can purportedly do a task fully automatically, but which in reality is done by a hidden person<br />
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_Turk<br />
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Turk<br />
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Mechanical_Turk<br />
'''Wallace and Gromit's Cracking Contraptions'''
https://media.giphy.com/media/pwBi3YrGypMyI/giphy.gif<br />
https://media.giphy.com/media/13oMkxohx4E1AA/giphy.gif<br />
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbBO-hiF8wE
==Public program==
===H&D Summer Talks night===
''Curated by H&D in collaboration with WAAG''
Location: De PUNT
Curator: Anja Groten & Amy Wu
Schedule
19:00 - 22:30: presentation /exhibition 
19:30 Dmytri Kleiner: http://digitallabor.org/schedule/value-capture-and-the-affect-machine-non-money-capital-in-the-digital-age
20:00 (...)
20:30 15 minutes break 
20:45 Femke Herregraven
21:15 Lauren and Kyle McDonald’s: http://emotional-labor.email/ (alternative: Market for Immaterial Value; Valentina Karga & Pieterjan Grandry http://www.marketforimmaterialvalue.com/)
==References== 


Brian Holmes writes in “The Affectivist Manifesto” (2009) that activism today faces “the knowledge society, an excruciatingly complex order. The striking thing . . . is the zombie-like character of this society, its fallback to automatic pilot, its cybernetic governance.”
Hardware hacking, wiring, soldering, prototyping and discussing while making a smart machine


http://www.e-flux.com/journal/zombies-of-immaterial-labor-the-modern-monster-and-the-death-of-death/
===Public program===
Zombies of Immaterial Labor was originally presented in the Masquerade lecture series, organized by the curatorial platform If I Can’t Dance I Don’t Want To Be Part Of Your Revolution, at the Piet Zwart Institute in Rotterdam, January 25, 2010.


http://www.perc.org.uk/project_posts/the-political-economy-of-david-bowie/
The workshops will be contextualized with a public film screening curated by Jeffrey Babcock and a
public lecture program, the Hackers & Designers Summer Talks.
Both programs attract a bigger audience and therefore serve as a stage for projects created during
the Summer Academy. For the lecture night Hackers & Designers and Waag Society will invite
cross-disciplinary speakers to take the participants and the public into a deeper conversation around
the topics investigated during the summer academy. The speakers promise an informed evening offering
insights and diverse perspectives into their research, professional and artistic practices, but all
the while maintaining the satirical and humorous approach of Hackers & Designers.


http://www.e-flux.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2.-Maurizio-Lazzarato-Immaterial-Labor.pdf
===Who===


http://www.e-flux.com/journal/designs-for-a-new-world/
H&D will be responsible for project management, developing the general thematic and curatorial
framework of the Summer Academy and elaborate and finalize the 1st program block: Soft Work.
H&D will furthermore develop a (visual) communication strategy.
Waag will develop and facilitate the curriculum of the second part of the program: Hard Work, host
the public film screening and will support H&D with advice throughout the development process.
H&D and Waag will together develop the public program, and together share responsibilities on
matters that concern the overall concept of the program. Both initiatives will generate media attention
for the program, and both initiatives together will work on the selection process of Summer Academy
participants.
H&D & Waag will work closely together with the tutors to arrange any and all necessary materials for
successful workshops.


http://www.e-flux.com/journal/towards-the-space-of-the-general-on-labor-beyond-materiality-and-immateriality/
===Significance/importance===


http://www.arte.tv/guide/en/060180-014-A/futuremag?zone=europe
The Hackers & Designers Summer Academy provides a truly unique opportunity in the developing
careers of designers, engineers, artists, and programmers to have unfettered access to disciplines
which will have very little or no coverage in traditional undergraduate or graduate curriculums, especially in beta-sciences. Furthermore, it inspires students and practitioners to make a stake in technology, art and design and in the long term helps to provide the population of technically savvy citizens in the Netherlands, desire in order to create an tech economy that is relevant in global ecosystem.


http://resonate.io/2016/
===Aim===


http://emotional-labor.email/
Participants who have participated in the Hackers & Designers Summer Academy will at a minimum
find a lower barrier to execution in technological mediums and design thinking and methodologies.
The participants will have access to new tools and will develop personal networks for collaboration
and assistance as they continue their future developing practices. Additionally, beyond hands-on
experimentation with current technologies, participants will develop a foundation of theoretical knowledge valuable in the current and future public discourse.


http://www.electronicbookreview.com/thread/technocapitalism/voluntary
===Target group===


==Documentation==
The Summer Academy is for professional practitioners in the fields of design, art, and technology in
and outside of the Netherlands as well as international undergraduate/graduate students. The participants will ideally be highly motivated and interested in cross-disciplinary practices as well as self-initiation.


*hackersanddesigners.nl
Participants from all disciplines will be vetted based upon submitted applications, CVs, portfolios,
*wiki.hackersanddesigners.nl
and a history of engagement and/or interest in technology. The ideal applicants will also have a record
*meetup.com/Hackers-and-Designers-Amsterdam-NL
of self-initiated projects.


Technology participants Technology participants primarily study and/or work in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, informatica, data science, bio engineering and/or physics.
Designers and artists Participants from the fields of design and/or arts are interested in digital culture, technology and engaging critically in discussions about new social and technological developments.


*facebook.com/hackersanddesigners
*twitter.com/hack1design
*github.com/hackersanddesigners


==Things to add:==
The public program invites the broader public to engage in the topics of this year’s Summer Academy
*Non-hierarchical approach (teacher & participants should meet each other on eye level and learn form each other)
through film, lectures and discussion. It’s an opportunity to engage with participants, workshop
*Keeping the price low increases level of participation
leaders, lecturers and organizers with friendly curiosity and criticality, and join the discourse which
*Professionals and students can/should both join
hopefully will extend far beyond the 10 days of the event
*Are we able to organize accommodation if necessary? (Camping? OT301? Tetterode?)

Latest revision as of 13:10, 3 March 2016

work in progress

Hackers & Designers Summer Academy 2016

Slogan: If you are so smart why are you so poor?

Title: At work. About immaterial labor, digital economies and techno-societies.

Date: July 25th - August 5th 2016

Location: De PUNT (1st block), WAAG (2nd block), end presentation and lecture night De PUNT (?),


Price:

Full program inclusive an informal welcome dinner, daily lunch, free access to the public programs, an arduino kit: €350,00 (excl. BTW) Price one program block: €200,00 (excl. BTW) Price public program: €5,00 entrance

Total amount of participants: 200-250 participants


Of which:

Full workshop program: 50-60 participants

Each workshop program: 30-35 participants

5 spots saved for members of We are here Academy & Hack your Future.

Lecture program: 100 participants

Film screening: 60 participants



Introduction

Hackers & Designers (H&D) is a non-profit cross-disciplinary community of professional technologists, designers, and artists. During the summer of 2016 Hackers & Designers will invite an international curated group of ambitious participants to learn by creating, researching, and discussing. After a successful first edition in 2015, 2016’s summer academy will be developed in close collaboration with Waag Society. The program will be stirred by the title and curatorial framework ‘At work. If you are so smart why are you so poor.’ The methodical emphasize will lie on a hands-on approach to learning. During the 10 day program the participants will be equipped with a cross-disciplinary vocabulary and the necessary scope to make more informed and ethical decisions.

Why

Designers and artists, in a world moving more and more digital, should be empowered with the tools of the digital realm including coding and hardware usage and construction. Conversely technologists should be more comfortable and effective in engaging in creative processes through familiarity with the vocabulary of designers and artists. All disciplines should become more comfortable in theoretical and social discourse, and thus be asking questions such as not only “can we” but “should we”. Title: At work. If you are so smart why are you so poor? In order to bring the diverse disciplines together in a meaningful way the program will be center around the controversial topic of immaterial labor, and the effects digital economies have on our current techno-society, – a crucial and on-going discussion at stake in both design/art and developer practices. H&D invites this year’s summer academy participants to go into discussion and critically reflect on their (digital) activities that exist outside/alongside the traditional wage-based definition of labor. What does it mean for the future of our practices to contribute to creative commons and open source projects, to self-initiate, to organize communities, to promote and publish on social networks, to perpetually generate content, to evolve multiple identities as bloggers, vloggers, mojo contributors (mobile journalism)…? Approach: Hands-on, DIY (Do it yourself) and DIT (Do it together) During the 10 day program the participants will get equipped with a cross-disciplinary vocabulary and approach and the necessary scope to make informed and ethical decisions. Concepts like encryption, crypto-currencies, post-scarcity, deep/dark webs, etc. will be addressed in a workshop manner. The hands-on approach and the challenges that come with making as opposed to talking will stay central throughout the whole program. H&D believes that in order to develop a deeper understanding of the qualities and disadvantages of technology we need to look inside the black boxes of the technology that we heavily rely on in our daily physical and digital, and our private and professional lives. Therefore we urge the participants of the summer academy to open the box, look inside it, rummage through it or even make their own boxes. Approach: Collaboration Technologists will, contrary to convention, be invited to engage at the very beginning of the creative process. Similarly the designers and artists will be invited to experiment and engage with unfamiliar and deeper technological concepts with which they may not be immediately equipped. It is through Aanvraag e-culture: Hackers & Designers Summer Academy 2016 2 the collaborative approach where common vocabulary and understanding will arise, and be available in future endeavors beyond the Summer Academy.

What

The summer academy will include international participants from both student and professional pursuits to build relationships and investigate new technologies and design media, which will jump start not only the academic careers in case of students, but also enrich existing and future professional careers with more technological tools, unique collaboration opportunities, a cross-disciplinary vocabulary, and an understanding of tech and design tools, all in a social and inclusive environment. Each day of the summer academy will be carefully programmed and structured with workshops, experimentation, and learning. During the workshops the participants will be challenged to use and push the boundaries of existing technology and programming platforms (web, hardware, software), networks online/offline (internet, peer 2 peer, beacons), and user experience (apps, web, installations, sensory organs), all in a practical manner as well as in regards to the content and ethical consequences.

Progam

The program will be divided in two blocks of each 5 days. Both program blocks fall under the thematic umbrella ‘At work’. The first block Soft work has a focus on software construction along side looking at soft concepts including soft money, soft intelligence, soft power, soft or informal forms of organization of work etc. while taking place at De PUNT. The second block Hard work focuses on Hardware construction along hard concepts like hard money, hard data, hard labor, etc., while taking place at the Fablab of Waag Society. The two blocks complement each other in terms of taught technical skills and in regards to the content. Participants can apply for one of the two blocks or for the full program. All workshops will be accessible for both the tech-savvy and newbie nerds.

Block 1 Soft work:

July 25th-July 30th 2016


Curated by H&D, taking place at De PUNT, Frans de Wollantstraat 84, Amsterdam

Mode of production: hands-on!

Workshopping, wire framing, software development & prototyping, designing, discussion


Block 2 Hard work

August 1st-5th 2016

Curated by Waag Society & Hackers & Designers,taking place at Waag Society’s Fablab, Nieuwmarkt 4 Amsterdam

Research question: Does smart technology makes us dumb?

Workshopping: Make an animate machine (bezielde machine)

Modes of production: hands-on!

Hardware hacking, wiring, soldering, prototyping and discussing while making a smart machine

Public program

The workshops will be contextualized with a public film screening curated by Jeffrey Babcock and a public lecture program, the Hackers & Designers Summer Talks. Both programs attract a bigger audience and therefore serve as a stage for projects created during the Summer Academy. For the lecture night Hackers & Designers and Waag Society will invite cross-disciplinary speakers to take the participants and the public into a deeper conversation around the topics investigated during the summer academy. The speakers promise an informed evening offering insights and diverse perspectives into their research, professional and artistic practices, but all the while maintaining the satirical and humorous approach of Hackers & Designers.

Who

H&D will be responsible for project management, developing the general thematic and curatorial framework of the Summer Academy and elaborate and finalize the 1st program block: Soft Work. H&D will furthermore develop a (visual) communication strategy. Waag will develop and facilitate the curriculum of the second part of the program: Hard Work, host the public film screening and will support H&D with advice throughout the development process. H&D and Waag will together develop the public program, and together share responsibilities on matters that concern the overall concept of the program. Both initiatives will generate media attention for the program, and both initiatives together will work on the selection process of Summer Academy participants. H&D & Waag will work closely together with the tutors to arrange any and all necessary materials for successful workshops.

Significance/importance

The Hackers & Designers Summer Academy provides a truly unique opportunity in the developing careers of designers, engineers, artists, and programmers to have unfettered access to disciplines which will have very little or no coverage in traditional undergraduate or graduate curriculums, especially in beta-sciences. Furthermore, it inspires students and practitioners to make a stake in technology, art and design and in the long term helps to provide the population of technically savvy citizens in the Netherlands, desire in order to create an tech economy that is relevant in global ecosystem.

Aim

Participants who have participated in the Hackers & Designers Summer Academy will at a minimum find a lower barrier to execution in technological mediums and design thinking and methodologies. The participants will have access to new tools and will develop personal networks for collaboration and assistance as they continue their future developing practices. Additionally, beyond hands-on experimentation with current technologies, participants will develop a foundation of theoretical knowledge valuable in the current and future public discourse.

Target group

The Summer Academy is for professional practitioners in the fields of design, art, and technology in and outside of the Netherlands as well as international undergraduate/graduate students. The participants will ideally be highly motivated and interested in cross-disciplinary practices as well as self-initiation.

Participants from all disciplines will be vetted based upon submitted applications, CVs, portfolios, and a history of engagement and/or interest in technology. The ideal applicants will also have a record of self-initiated projects.

Technology participants Technology participants primarily study and/or work in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, informatica, data science, bio engineering and/or physics. Designers and artists Participants from the fields of design and/or arts are interested in digital culture, technology and engaging critically in discussions about new social and technological developments.


The public program invites the broader public to engage in the topics of this year’s Summer Academy through film, lectures and discussion. It’s an opportunity to engage with participants, workshop leaders, lecturers and organizers with friendly curiosity and criticality, and join the discourse which hopefully will extend far beyond the 10 days of the event