Researchers' toolbox for the future is a series of workshops dedicated towards exploring, discussing, redefining, and formulating, in particular, methods for imagining the future of technology, one that is empowering albeit provocative, but also researcher work practice in more general. In these workshops, we build on critical and/or future-oriented methods such as critical design, speculative design, design fictions, and others. Our goal is to compile a methodological toolbox for the future of CCI and HCI research for the workshop participants; one that enables us to inquire, design, and critically examine our own work and technological futures we imagine together with others. 

Currently, there are parallel tracks for these workshops, which support each other:

  • One track is focused on critical design in general 
  • Another track focuses specifically on methods for working for and with children. 
    • Within CCI, there is an emphasis on empowering children through co-design and co-creation of technology that shapes their learning, inside and outside the classroom, their wellbeing and lifestyle, and everyday experiences. However, the focus has primarily been on now or the near future, with limited work on designing children’s future technological life worlds. Therefore we want to examine methods for imagining alternative futures with children.
    • Examining and developing ways of working with children on design and making and in the FabLabs in more general is another focus area in CCI and we want to share learnings from our past experiences and fortunate accidents.
  • Building on the PAIZ project (project webpage) that focused on Critical AI Literacy for children, we started Fall 2022 a track for Age Against the Machine
  • Across all these tracks, we want to offer researchers and practitioners opportunities to reflect and examine their own work practice.

    In these workshops, researchers and practioners discuss, critique, imagine, and redefine methods and approaches towards technology design.

    Published workshop outcomes

    Previous workshops and seminars

    Upcoming calls for participation

    • at IDC 2026: A Series of Fortunate Events: Reflecting on Lessons Learnt from Challenges and Failures in CCI Research. More info at: https://interact.oulu.fi/failu... 

    On hold:

    • Workshop on Love in the Time of a Pandemic (details here)
    • Workshop on Empowering, Inclusive, and Accessible AI for and with Children (details here)

    Page last updated: Feb 24th 2026