Don’t Look Away: The Attention Economy At Play
Presented by State Library Victoria
DETAILS
Ticketed
State Library of Victoria - Conversation Quarter
328 Swanston Street, Melbourne VIC, Australia
DATES
Wed 21 May 5.45 – 7.30pmBook now
5:45pm – 6:15pm: Curators tour of the exhibition | 6:30pm – 7:30pm: Panel Discussion
What if everything you interacted with online was designed to keep you logged in?
At its best, digital design enhances our experiences, creating personal, immersive and gratifying interactions. At its worst, it exploits our habits, our psychology and even our trust. Urgent limited time offers. Constant notifications. Daily rewards that keep you coming back for more. Where does engagement end and exploitation begin?
Join the State Library of Victoria as they pull back the curtain on the hidden influences at work in game, web and graphic design this Melbourne Design Week. Together, with a panel of experts in digital ethics, psychology and game design, explore the responsibilities designers have in shaping our online experiences. Panellists include:
• Deb Polson, Director of RMIT research centre, CODE (Centre of Digital Ecosystems
• Dr Jeannie Paterson, leading voice in consumer protection, digital law and AI ethics
• Dr Andrew Perfors, Director of the Complex Human Data Hub at the University of Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences
• Darcy Smith from Studio Folly, an independent Melbourne-based game design and development studio
Participants
Deb Polson - Host
Deb Polson is a Professor of Digital Design at RMIT and the Research Director of the Centre for Digital Ecosystems. As a designer, Deb leverages game development technologies to create complex data simulations and dynamic interactions for museum curators, policymakers, hospital patients, and urban developers, collaborating with a wide range of partners from Marvel LA to Plastics NZ. As an academic, Deb has led research, teaching, and technical teams at universities across Australia, China, the UK, and in New Zealand where she developed and launched a new School of Design at the University of Auckland in 2020.
Dr. Andrew Perfors | Speaker
Dr. Andrew Perfors is the Director of the Complex Human Data Hub at the University of Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences and a leader of the Computational Cognitive Science Lab. His research focuses on quantitative approaches to higher-order cognition, including concepts, language, decision-making, and the transmission of information and misinformation. Dr. Perfors’ research provides insights into how cognitive processes influence knowledge formation, belief change, and social evolution in complex, information-rich settings.
Darcy Smith of Studio Folly | Speaker
Darcy is a game designer and director who specialises in games that make you think. As the co-founder of Studio Folly, he is most known for their creative titles, Gubbins and Real Bird Fake Bird. Alongside his Folly-related pursuits, Darcy also serves on the board of Freeplay, Australia's longest running games festival.
Dr. Jeannie Paterson | Speaker
Dr. Jeannie Paterson is a Professor of Law at the University of Melbourne and the Director of the Centre for AI and Digital Ethics. A leading expert in consumer protection, digital law, and AI regulation, her research examines the impact of emerging technologies on fairness, privacy, and trust. Dr. Paterson’s work spans algorithmic decision-making, dark patterns in digital design, and the ethics of persuasion in AI-driven systems. She frequently collaborates with policymakers, industry leaders, and legal scholars to develop frameworks for responsible technology. Passionate about digital rights, she is a key voice in shaping the ethical and legal future of AI.