NEUWERK-Magazin Vol. 7 – Michel Fleiszner

NEUWERK-Magazin Volume 7 – KONTAKT

Neuwerk magazine is the leading publication of design science at Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle.

This issue focuses on the theme of 'Contact', exploring the multifaceted role of design as an interface between people, various entities, and the world. Through a selection of design science articles and practical projects, the issue illustrates how design facilitates connections and transcends boundaries.

The magazine showcases content that highlights the significance of design in fostering connections and overcoming barriers. The seventh issue departs from traditional reading habits by offering an interactive experience. This is achieved through a word and image index that links all the articles together, providing a cohesive and engaging exploration of the theme.

In my contribution to this issue, an essay explores how touch-based technologies can be rethought as expressive, sensory systems rather than mere functional tools. My article interrogates the traditional role of haptics in accessibility, particularly in tools like Braille displays, and calls for a broader understanding of these technologies as design interfaces that open up aesthetic and experiential dimensions.

Through a speculative and design-theoretical lens, the text examines how haptic media can become a space for negotiation—between hand and device, interface and body, surface and language. It considers how the translation of digital code into tactile expression might not only serve communication but also generate new forms of aesthetic articulation. Ultimately, the article advocates for an expanded design approach to haptics—one that embraces ambiguity, materiality, and sensorial diversity in the spirit of inclusive design. A summary can be found here.

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