Ahead of presenting our Work in Progress paper at IDC 2025, I decided to take our research on a little adventure — literally. I left a trail of design heuristics for GenAI learning platforms scattered across Iceland, turning the country into a quirky, interactive map of ideas.
Some heuristics found homes as stickers on lampposts, signs, and other random street furniture, while others were tucked into tourist postcard racks or pinned to community noticeboards. Each one was a playful invitation for curious passersby to stumble upon a little spark of research in the middle of their travels.
It was such a fun way to blend research, play, and exploration. I loved imagining people discovering these tiny nuggets of knowledge in unexpected places — a heuristic on a lamp post, a postcard in a café — and maybe pausing to think, smile, or even share the idea further.
This whimsical “heuristics trail” felt like a celebration of curiosity, creativity, and the idea that research doesn’t have to live only on paper. Sometimes, it can go on a mini adventure of its own!
