Helen Armstrong

Helen Armstrong

Director of the Master of Graphic & Experience Design Program and Professor of Graphic Design at North Carolina State University

Helen Armstrong, Director of the Master of Graphic & Experience Design Program and a Professor at North Carolina State University, focuses her research on accessible design, digital rights, and machine learning. Armstrong authored Graphic Design Theory; Digital Design Theory; and co-authored Participate: Designing with User-Generated Content. Her new book, Big Data, Big Design: Why Designers Should Care About Artificial Intelligence, demystifies A.I.—specifically machine learning— while inspiring designers to harness this technology and establish leadership via thoughtful human-centered design. She is a past member of the AIGA National Board of Directors, the editorial board of Design and Culture, and a former co-chair of the AIGA Design Educators Community. NC State named her a University Faculty Scholar in 2018. Her work has been recognized by Print and HOW Magazine, and included in numerous publications in the U.S. and the UK. Armstrong is the proud mom of a kid with disabilities and a fierce advocate for designing inclusive, intelligent interfaces and experiences.

🗓️ Elisabeth’s talk:

Why Designers Should Care about Artificial Intelligence

Track A (Upstairs), Friday 3:00 pm - 3:45 pm

Designers stand at the verge of a great professional opportunity: artificial intelligence. This technology enables computers to study the world and make predictions using unstructured data. We can speak to machines—and machines can speak back. We can gesture to devices, expressing emotion and intent, and machines can respond meaningfully. We can look to computers not just for interaction, but for companionship. How can designers adapt and thrive in this evolving terrain? How might we map out new brands, platforms and experiences between human and machine? What dangers must we address? What destructive ideologies must we reveal? What possibilities for a better future might we explore and prototype?