Digital Architecture Lab (DAL) is excited to launch MESH Studio—a dynamic initiative inviting researchers from the DAL community and the Henkaku Center to propose ideas for short-term projects aligned with DAL's mission and values. 

We are looking for researchers to collaborate with for our pilot experiment. Our prompt to you: propose a cutting-edge project that translates emerging fields of research into interactive, impactful experiences. Whether it’s an installation, interactive digital publication, event, field trip, or product, we want to see your creativity and sensibility come to life.

Project Overview

Timeline: The collaboration will span a three-month project timeline, during which researchers will develop an experience that translates an emerging field of research into an interactive format. Proposals will be accepted until August 15 and reviewed on a rolling basis, with the first project slated to commence in September. While our focus is on research related to the topics listed below, we welcome additional explorations.

Topics of Interest (descriptions in Section 2): Blockchain and Decentralized Governance, Digital and Experience Architecture, AI / LLMs / Probabilistic Computing, Artificial Life, Computational Cognition + Biology, Relation of Media + World

Application Deadline: August 15, 2024 (23:59 JST)

DAL Support: Selected teams will receive up to 500,000 JPY per project. In addition to financial support, DAL will provide technical and event support, as well as access to our community of researchers, architects, designers, and engineers, ensuring you have the resources needed for the project.

Outcome: The project should culminate in the agreed-upon media production (e.g., installation, event, product), along with an article (e.g., research overview or project retrospective) to be published on our blog, featuring you as a guest researcher/author.

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Digital Architecture Lab (DAL) is an experimental research lab where designers, engineers, and scientists collaborate to bridge the gap between technology, culture, and society. Our mission is to develop “a new digital sensibility” that shapes the emerging architectural paradigm by blending practical application with theoretical understanding. Explore more in our white paper here.

MESH Studio within DAL serves as a playground for experiments and collaborations with researchers, focusing on emerging technologies. Our goal is to make frontier research accessible and relatable to the public through playful and interactive installations and other forms of media. Some previous experiments have been covered on our blog, like in this experiment.

By educating and involving the public in answering key questions about technology and progress, we aim to ensure that the benefits of innovation are widely shared and sustainable.