Posthuman-Centered Design Salon

On Thursday May 21, 2026 the Posthuman-Centered Design Congress is hosting the first of a series of salon discussions.

The topic: What is the future of HCD in a posthuman future? Where are things going and how might we respond now?

We’re limiting it to about 10-12 people we like and respect, and think is likely to have insight into the future of our industry.

When/where:

  • Thursday May 21, 5:15. 
  • El Tesoro: 1374 Arkwright Pl SE, Atlanta, GA 30317, United States

Instructions:

This salon is a structured discussion designed to produce a substantial conversation. Everyone is asked to bring short passages on some theme determined ahead of time. 

To prepare for the salon, please prepare two statements.

  1. The biggest change we will see in the field of HCD is ______.
  2. The best thing a HCD designer can do now to prepare for the future is ______.

Participants will take turns reading passages, and the group converses on that theme. 

Here are the rules:

  • The purpose of the Salon is to generate dialogue. We want to make it possible to express ideas that cannot be expressed in normal, everyday conversation.
  • Quotes will be used to seed dialogue.
  • Please come to the Salon with quotes connected with the theme of the event.
  • Quotes play a central role in the Salon, but the purpose of the Salon is not sharing quotes. They are a means to stimulate dialogue. Dialogue should not be cut off or rushed in order to give everyone their turn to read. Not all quotes will be read.
  • This is an intellectual safe zone. No opinion is prohibited. The only rule is respect. If you find an idea offensive, please challenge it using reason and constrain your emotions and moral passions. Please do not self-censor out of fear of upsetting someone with your ideas. (But again — be respectful!)
  • We want to be sure people are given a chance to finish their thoughts even if the thoughts are complex. Interruptions can be vetoed by the current speaker, signaled by raising their hand.
  • Contributions to the discussion should always address the ideas of the previous speaker. Evolve the subject, don’t change the subject.
  • Dialogue should be kept thematically close to the quotes and should refer back to them explicitly whenever possible.
  • As conversation progresses and develops, new quotes can be introduced to feed the dialogue.
  • If a dialogue comes to an end, we will restart dialogue with a new quote.
  • The Salon has many modes of participation. Some participants will do more listening and others will do more speaking. Nobody should feel pressured to speak if they wish to listen, or to stay silent if they have something to say.