Blossoming of collective creativity in physically and digitally active communities through the creation of immersive augmented reality objects (flowAR)

(Project duration: 01.06.2025 to 31.05.2028)

Funding body: Project in the innovation competition NEXT.IN.NRW of the EFRE/JTF-Program NRW 2021–2027.

Vision & objectives

The research project flowAR explores how immersive technologies such as augmented reality (AR) can redesign collaborative art installations in a natural context. The focus is on a user-centered AR authoring tool that enables non-experts to make their own creative contributions to immersive art installations. The aim is to create new forms of participatory art in public spaces - low-threshold, inclusive and ecologically sensitizing. flowAR pursues a user-centered approach and investigates the conditions under which digital and physical communities participate in co-creative processes, what motivates them to remain engaged in the long term and how these processes can be meaningfully supported by digital tools.

Participation through technology: promoting collective creativity

flowAR combines physical and digital spaces to create hybrid creative environments. The technical basis is a modular AR authoring tool that enables collaborative design. Based on methods such as design thinking and action design research, the needs and motivations of communities are identified and transferred directly into the design of tools and processes.

Hybrid communities: motivation and sustainability

A central component of the research project is the scientific monitoring and design of hybrid communities: What motivates people to participate creatively? How can commitment be maintained? The emergence, dynamics and stabilization of these communities are continuously investigated in order to be able to adapt the AR authoring tool specifically to their needs. In two iterations, prototypes of the AR application will be tested, used in the field and optimized through user feedback. The communities are not only seen as an audience, but also as active co-artists.

Field of application IGA2027: Digital art in public space

The International Garden Exhibition 2027 (IGA2027) in the Ruhr metropolitan region serves as a real field of application. A publicly accessible, immersive AR art installation is being created in the so-called Future Gardens, which will be filled with immersive content created by the community. The content can be created via mobile devices and made visible on site using the latest technologies - locally anchored, digitally enhanced.

Transfer & impact

flowAR strengthens the interface between technology, society and collaborative participation. The results of the project open up new possibilities for museums, cultural institutions, cities and civil society initiatives. This not only strengthens creative skills, but also raises awareness of issues such as the environment, urbanity and participation in public spaces.

The project duration is 36 months from 06.2025 to 05.2028.

Project manager and contact person for questions or cooperation offers is: Prof. Dr. Manuel Wiesche

Contact person at the Chair of Digital Transformation is: Dana Hofmann, M.Sc.