ArtCenter College of Design to Host Event on Data’s Impact on Art and Society

In a convergence of art, technology, and social critique, ArtCenter College of Design’s Hillside Campus in Pasadena will host “The Data Dilemma: Creative Solutions for Data-Driven Futures” on Nov. 14 as part of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD) Symposium running from Nov. 13-15. The event aims to investigate the role of artists and designers in shaping our increasingly data-centric world.

The program, initially open to AICAD Symposium attendees and ticket holders, with public tickets available in early October, will feature a panel discussion on data visualization and a keynote address by Safiya Noble. Noble, the David O. Sears Presidential Endowed Chair of Social Sciences and professor at UCLA, is the author of “Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism.” She will discuss the potential harms of AI and algorithms, a statement from ArtCenter said.

The panel, titled “Data in the Digital Age,” will be in the Ahmanson Auditorium, bringing together experts from various fields to explore how big data can be interpreted and visualized. Panelists include Santiago Lombeyda and Hillary Mushkin from the Data to Discovery initiative, and Jason Forrest and Jen Ray of Data Vandals, artists-in-residence in ArtCenter’s Designmatters social impact program for Fall 2024.

Maggie Hendrie, dean of ArtCenter’s Media and Technology department, will moderate the discussion, which is organized in conjunction with the exhibition “Seeing the Unseeable: Data, Design, Art” and PST ART: Art & Science Collide by Getty, the global arts organization. The exhibition, located in the Williamson Gallery, showcases works by over 16 artists and designers, including Refik Anadol, Rafael Lozano Hemmer, and Giorgia Lupi.

Attendees can view the exhibition during extended gallery hours in the afternoon, with curators available to provide insights, and attend a reception in the Boardroom later.

Noble’s keynote presentation is scheduled in the Ahmanson Auditorium. As a MacArthur Foundation Fellow recognized for her work on algorithmic discrimination, Noble brings a unique perspective to the intersection of data, design, and social justice.

The symposium, themed “Teach for Tomorrow,” reflects broader trends in art education, as institutions grapple with preparing students for a rapidly changing technological landscape. It seeks to address how educators can prepare students and communities for new ways of teaching, learning, and working.

The event also participates in the PST ART Climate Impact Program, integrating climate action, community building, and data reporting.

For more information, visit https://www.artcenter.edu/connect/events/data-dilemma.html.