The Problem of Pace: Design Process in a Generative Age

The Problem of Pace - Li Ping Thong presenting

The Problem of Pace – full presentation at the Global Dialogue on Art and Technology forum in Beijing this week. I was invited to speak alongside China and international practitioners across a vast range of disciplines in arts and culture including immersive technologies, film and media, games, theatre and sound – unpacking how the integration … Read more

Designing for Eyes: UX/UI Shifts in the Era of Display AI Glasses

Meta Rayban Glasses framing 4 sheep at Li Ping Thong's farm

Google Design just posted a newly launched design system for Android XR experiences – Jetpack Compose Glimmer. With the race towards display AI glasses – Apple entering the space, Meta positioning away from VR and leaning into wearables, Google reattempting smart glasses (full circle from Google Glass, remember Glassholes?) – very interesting time in the … Read more

Regeneration Under Constraint – A Field of Gorse

Gorse

At work, I spend a great deal of time where regenerative futures is discussed as strategy, aspiration and ambition. This Lunar New Year, I took two weeks break for some needed restoration – preparing myself for a very hectic semester ahead. Sitting with my army of chickens at the farm, I have been reading Design … Read more

Your AI Companion

persons-hands-are-holding-smartphone-with-glowing-heart-screen-symbolizing-love-connection-digital-age-against-backdrop-city-lights-night

Valentine’s Day has just passed ❤️. Amid flowers, heart balloons and candlelit dinners – I read a piece on Gizmodo about someone who took their AI chatbot out on a date. Literally – phone propped up in front of them at a nice wine bar. “He was attentive, obsessed with me, and sometimes hard of … Read more

Designing for Repetition

A keyboard with gradient gray keys, it's a top view shot but there's no legends on the keycaps.

I got a new keyboard. Small acquisition – but it brought me a disproportionate amount of joy and happiness. I care a lot about keyboards – not as accessories – instruments. It is the mediator between the thinking and the screen. I treat my keyboards like a wardrobe, different keyboards for different occasions and different … Read more

Regeneration Requires a Chainsaw

Li Ping Thong standing in a tree with a chain saw.

If we’re not actively regenerating – are we really designing for the future? Been catching up on my never-ending list of farm chores. Yesterday, I spent hours cutting down massive fallen tree limbs that were wedged in the trunk of another gum tree. The cut logs will be put to good use – mushroom logs, … Read more

Teaching Is Not a Prompt

Student testing out VR headset.

Teaching is about guiding students toward mastery, like a modern-day apprenticeship. 🔨 I was hanging out with Dr Ben Byrne (Program Manager, Digital Media) last week, chatting about the exciting studios lined up for our Digital Media program next semester. As always, it’s a real Digital Design smorgasbord – UX/UI, immersive design, interactive, sound design, … Read more

Real Users, Not Assumed Personas

An open laptop, facing Jonathan Duckworth and an elderly person in a user testing session.

Spent half a day yesterday at a retirement village conducting usability testing with Associate Professor Jonathan Duckworth and our collaborators at Australian Catholic University (ACU). My research often takes me to interesting places – quite in awe of the amenities at this retirement village (I hadn’t been to one before). Our project, the Road to … Read more

A Pinch of Thought

Meta Orion

The future of UX is going to be all in the flick of a thumb and a pinch of thought. This year’s Meta Connect keynote got me really excited – especially the Orion holographic wide-field AR glasses and their neural interface technology. The electromyography (EMG) wristband was intriguing – it means controlling spatial user interfaces … Read more