Aesthetics matters.

  While soft robotics has made significant strides in areas such as wearable devices and grasping systems, with a strong emphasis on safe interaction, they remain uncommon in everyday life and personal settings—largely due to their limited appeal to users. This workshop explores the fusion of technology, art, and design to elevate both functionality and user experience. By positioning soft robots as aesthetically appealing companions, it aims to foster stronger user connections, accelerating adoption through interactions that are safe, effective, and visually and emotionally engaging—particularly in fields like home care, personal assistance, and edutainment.

  The workshop will also cover the bridge between aesthetics and sustainability, emphasizing the use of eco-friendly smart materials and energy-efficient solutions. Additionally, it will explore cultural aspects of aesthetics, aiming to make soft robotics more inclusive and accessible to diverse communities. Ethical design will be a key focus, as we explore how advances in AI and emerging technologies can elevate both the performance and emotional impact of robots.

  With thought-provoking talks from roboticists, designers, artists, and live demonstrations, this workshop will challenge participants to rethink the role of soft robots in shaping the future of human-robot interaction, leading to lasting societal transformations.

Call for Submission:

2-minute PechaKucha-style presentation 

"Talk less, show more."

You are invited to showcase your research in PechaKucha style!

1st prize award: 300 CHF

Create a video showcasing your work,

with a focus on colors, music, strong visual storytelling, and overall aesthetic appeal, but..

 talking is not allowed!

You have full freedom when it comes to style. Some suggestions:

-- You can record your screen while advancing the slides

--  Record your devices and samples doing fun things

-- Give life to your simulations: data can be a source of art

-- Add background music that vibes with the visual content

Submit a 2-minute video of your presentation:

https://forms.gle/svVHHSnwFMBeVoAG6

Deadline: March 28th

The best videos will be selected for presentation during the workshop, and the prize sponsored by Actuators (MDPI) will be awarded to the winner.

(Optional: while on stage, the authors can accompany their movies with creative mimicry!)