Architects at CHI

Paper in proceeding, 2026

This meetup brings together architects at CHI to reflect on how architectural training and practice have shaped trajectories in HCI, and to explore how architectural sensibilities have informed-and could further enrich-the field. We will begin with brief personal narratives: how participants came into HCI or interaction design, what architectural skills and ways of seeing they brought, and which theories continue to guide their work. In a collective mapping exercise, we will examine the relevance of architectural thinking for HCI, surfacing shared insights, divergent practices, and potential avenues for future research. Beyond networking, the session aims to provoke reflection on how architecture has influenced HCI in design processes, pedagogy, and aesthetics, particularly regarding space, materiality, poetics, and human experience. We will also consider critical perspectives, identifying architectural sensibilities that support or challenge current practices, while highlighting canonical architectural theories with promise for informing HCI research and design.