Design Informatics

We are delighted to share a reminder of this year’s programme celebrating humanities research as part of the 2026 ✨ Festival of Science Science✨ and ✨

Across this week, visit the ‘Digital Ghosts’ exhibition to step into the forgotten corners of the internet.

This Wednesday join , researchers and artists for ‘Decolonizing AI’ a discussion, talk and workshop, for a lively exploration of AI, bias, and creativity

This Saturday join for ‘Digital Ghosts: Visualising Presence and Absence in Scotland’s Web Archives’ Workshop to discover for yourself how data visualization can help us to better understand archives and their cultural significance.

Links for all programming in Bio
➡️ 10:00-17:00 Daily, 5-16 Nov (closed Mon/Tues) | Digital Ghosts Exhibition
➡️ 13:00-14:30, Sat 15 Nov | Digital Ghosts – Visualising Presence and Absence in Scotland’s Web Archives Workshop with
📍Inspace, 1 Crichton Street

➡️ 14:00-16:00, Thurs 13 Nov | Decolonising AI
📍Informatics Forum, 10 Crichton Street

The Institute for based at the and at the

We are delighted to share the latest and jam-packed edition of our Newsletter to kick off the new academic year.  
 
Don’t miss out on our latest hiring opportunities: Research Centres Support Assistant role at Research Centres: and OPENspace, and Data Visualisation Engineer and the .

Participate in the “Caring About Care” study if you’re over 65 and interested in shaping future tech. Plus, join us for a series of exciting events at this year’s autumn festivals, celebrating humanities research; part of Festival of Social Science and . Last but not least, join us for upcoming programming including events, workshops and exhibitions, celebrating the intersection of art, design, and technology. 
 
Read the edition here ➡ link in bio 
 
If you are not already on our mailing list and would like to hear updates from us then sign-up here: 🔗link in bio
 
About The Institute for Design Informatics 
The Institute for Design Informatics, University of Edinburgh is based at the , The University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh College of Art at the . In the Institute we fuse design and creative methodologies with data, data science and data-driven technologies. We create prototypes and experiences that make real to people the ideas that underpin the data society, and aim to ensure that new technologies sustain and enhance human values. 
 
Image Credit: Authenticity Unmasked: Unveiling AI-Driven Realities Through Art at Inspace. Photography by

In 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe , Design Informatics members will present a series of lightning talks as part of The Provocateurs talks programme, which blends controversial academic research, audience interaction, a dash of comedy and takes place at Edinburgh’s World Famous The Stand Comedy Club, Edinburgh .

Hosted by comedian Ria Lina. Dr Chris Elsden from the Design Informatics at The University of Edinburgh reveals kids’ attitudes to money from piggy banks to pocket money apps. Professor Rod Mitchell from Centre for Reproductive Health at The University of Edinburgh finds the funny in testicles, offering hope for children’s cancer and infertility.

📅 Tue 5 Aug 2025
⏰11:25am– 12:25pm
📍 Stand 2, The Stand Comedy Club, Edinburgh
Age 14 And Above
🔗 https://www.thestand.co.uk/fringe/2536/the-provocateurs-childrens-money-talking-bollocks

Chris will also perform on 18 August:
📅 Mon 18 Aug 2025
⏰ 5:40– 6:40pm
📍 Stand 4, The Stand Comedy Club, Edinburgh
🔗 https://www.thestand.co.uk/fringe/2562/the-provocateurs-childrens-money-minds-eyes

Edinburgh College of Art at the University of Edinburgh Edinburgh Futures Institute

In 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe , Design Informatics members will present a series of lightning talks as part of The Provocateurs talks programme, which blends controversial academic research, audience interaction, a dash of comedy and takes place at Edinburgh’s World Famous The Stand Comedy Club, Edinburgh .

Hosted by comedian Jojo Sutherland. Nicola Osborne, Manager of Design Informatics at The University of Edinburgh , imagines what stories we’ll be watching as tv and film made with virtual production technologies make almost anything possible without ever leaving a studio! Erin Sanchez, PhD candidate of The University of Edinburgh, investigates if what doesn’t kill you really can make you stronger.

📅 Mon 4 Aug 2025
⏰ 5:40– 6:40pm | Ticketed
📍 Stand 4, The Stand Comedy Club (Salt 'n' Sauce Promotions Ltd), Edinburgh
Age 14 And Above
🔗https://www.thestand.co.uk/fringe/2535/the-provocateurs-beneficial-stress-no-location-no-location-no-location

Nicola will also perform on 13 August:
📅Wed 13 Aug 2025
⏰11:25am– 12:25pm | Ticketed
📍Stand 2, The Stand Comedy Club, Edinburgh
🔗 https://www.thestand.co.uk/fringe/2551/the-provocateurs-voices-of-hope-no-location-no-location-no-location?

Edinburgh College of Art at the University of Edinburgh

In the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe , Design Informatics members will present a series of lightning talks as part of The Provocateurs talks programme, which blends controversial academic research, audience interaction, a dash of comedy and takes place at Edinburgh’s World Famous The Stand Comedy Club, Edinburgh .

Hosted by comedian Susan Morrison. Dr Shama Rahman from Design Informatics at The University of Edinburgh journeys through the brain’s most creative mental states in a quest for flow. Dr Michael Stirrat from the Edinburgh Napier University explores what we actually know about the psychology of gaslighting in relationships.

📅 Fri 1 Aug 2025
⏰ 5:40– 6:40pm | Ticketed
📍 Stand 4, The Stand Comedy Club, Edinburgh
Age: 14 And Above
🔗https://www.thestand.co.uk/fringe/2529/the-provocateurs-everyday-gaslighting-get-in-the-zone

Shama will also perform Get in the zone! on 8th and 23rd August. Read more details and book here: https://edin.ac/3IUPVn7

We are delighted to share this special edition of our Newsletter which features all our upcoming Edinburgh Summer Festival’s programming as part of the 2025 Edinburgh Art Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe .

We will host two exhibitions, Tipping Point and Authenticity Unmasked, featuring ten newly commissioned artworks inviting festival audiences to discover the role artists are playing in navigating the evolving landscapes of AI, taking place at Inspace and Informatics Forum. Alongside this, DI members will also present a series of lightning talks as part of The Provocateurs programme, which blends controversial academic research, audience interaction, a dash of comedy and takes place at Edinburgh’s World Famous The Stand Comedy Club, Edinburgh .

Read the edition here ➡ https://edin.ac/3TtPEd5

If you are not already on our mailing list and would like to hear updates from us then sign-up here: 🔗https://forms.office.com/e/ZrqT88ryZN

About The Institute for Design Informatics
The Institute for Design Informatics is based at the Informatics, University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh College of Art at the University of Edinburgh at The University of Edinburgh . In the Institute we fuse design and creative methodologies with data, data science and data-driven technologies. We create prototypes and experiences that make real to people the ideas that underpin the data society, and aim to ensure that new technologies sustain and enhance human values.