Winter 2026
Science Fiction Archive of Technological Imaginaries
Led by Tyler Fox & René Capella
Technologies are a product of situated cultural and political contexts. This DRG posits the same is true for imagined technologies found in speculative fiction which has been described as not a genre to predict the future but material to help us imagine possibility.
This DRG will be the first to start the curation of the Science Fiction Archive of Technological Imaginaries which contain short stories and novellas from the late 20th century to early 21st century that were published in Analog Magazine. We will read short stories from these magazines, locate/index technologies within them, and analyze these technologies within what Lisa Yaszek describes as “the flow” of the magazine itself.
You'll gain: research methods experience, qualitative analysis skills, and critical perspective on where design ideas come from. Potential for co-authorship on publications. No SF experience required, just curiosity about how we imagine technological possibility.
Commitment: Weekly 1-2 hour meetings, 1-2 stories/week reading during the Winter quarter of 2026.
To apply: Please fill out this Google Form.
Questions? Contact rene2024@uw.edu via email.
Autumn 2025
AI-Scaffolded Design Reflection
Led by Tyler Fox & René Capella
Tuesdays, 1-3 p.m.
Reflection is a cornerstone of good design practice. It helps us learn from mistakes, improve our skills, and tackle increasingly ambiguous, complex design challenges.
Our research focuses on three key areas:
- Targeted growth: Using AI-scaffolded reflection to help you develop specific competencies you want to strengthen—like systems thinking, engaging with stakeholders, or futures thinking, etc.
- Collaborative reflection: Exploring what happens when students, educators, and AI reflect together rather than individually
- Integrated learning: Understanding how reflection can be naturally embedded in coursework rather than treated as a separatfe exercise
What you’ll do as a participant:
You’ll use AI reflection tools while working on your regular design coursework and in our DRG. Instead of reflecting alone, you’ll participate in sessions where you, your peers, we (DRG leaders), and AI explore your design work together. We’ll reflect on projects from your classes, your learning process, and specific challenges we tackle in the DRG. In addition to reflections, we may ask participants to fill out surveys or diary studies.
We seek a variety of applicants, including undergraduate and graduate students.
While no formal design background is necessary, all participants must be enrolled in some course that explicitly deals with design practice.
To apply, please complete this Google Form »