Review Jona Andersen

Jona Anderson studied political science and history at the University of Amsterdam. He’s a developer at startup Nouncy, and is founding his own project: Mesoica.

He joined the Hackers & Designers summer academy because he is interested in the field of digital art, and design thinking. He wanted to develop a better understanding of the economical, cultural and social implications that working as a software developer can have.

After the Hackers & Designers summer school we asked him about his impressions.

Workshops Less workshops but more days so you have time to work on idea’s, work on the chosen idea and do extensive feedback/ discussions about it. insert a break of a day Deadline and time pressure make sure you 'make' something. > have to come up with a solution or idea as quick as possible. The theoretic workshop and discussions like the workshop of Daniël van de Velde, Error Messages, were interesting. Inspired to ‘play’ more with technology and implement creative processes. Level hackers was easy for example: python plant. But James: lifted it up an took it further> did more then what was expected.

Participants Liked the contact with other disciplines Contact with participants: Mark-Jan van Tellingen for example: way of working, doing research about digital media and receiving a grant for it. Group dimension: more interaction between Hackers & Designers 80% designers 20% hackers Good that Anja, Selby and James (organisers) also participated with the workshop. > informal atmosphere

Excursions Waag: I already been there and after seeing the labs I really felt like doing something with the available material.

Impact Work: attitude change. Interaction and new ideas.

Suggestions for next year relation print and web. Theoretic approach of Hackers and Designers. Invite Rune Madsen: Printing code: intersection graphic design and code. Generative form.