Kristin Carlson
Associate Professor
Sch of Theatre Dance and Film
Office
CVA Center For The Visual Arts 216a
Office Phone
Email
Website
- About
- Education
- Awards & Honors
- Research
Biography
Kristin is an Associate Professor in the Creative Technologies Program at Illinois State University, exploring the role that computation plays in embodied creative processes. She has a history of working in choreography, computational creativity, media performance, interactive art ,and design tools. She holds a BFA in Dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign, an MSc and PhD from Simon Fraser University in Interactive Arts and Technology, studying with Dr. Thecla Schiphorst and Dr. Philippe Pasquier. Kristin holds an AmSat certification in Alexander Technique.
Current Courses
CTK 490.006 Directed Projects In Creative Technology
CTK 499.001 Independent Research For The Master's Thesis
CTK 422.001 Capstone in Creative Technologies II
CTK 490.004 Directed Projects In Creative Technology
CTK 390.002 Directed Projects/Seminar In Arts Technology
CTK 499.001 Independent Research For The Master's Thesis
CTK 377.001 Motion Graphics
CTK 477.001 Motion Graphics
CTK 401.001 Portfolio Development In Creative Technologies
CTK 451.001 Practice-Based Research Methods
CTK 498.001 Professional Practice: Arts Technology
Teaching Interests & Areas
Immersive Experiences, User Experience, Computational Creativity
PhD
Simon Fraser University
Vancouver, Canada
MS
Simon Fraser University
Canada
BFA Dance
University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign
Impact Award
Illinois State University
2025
College Outstanding Researcher Award
Illinois State University
2020
Service Initiative Award
Illinois State University
2019
Research Initiative Award
Illinois State University
2018
Creative Activity Initiative Award
Illinois State University
2017
President’s PhD Scholarship
Simon Fraser University
2015
Graduate Researcher Award
Simon Fraser University
2013
Grants & Contracts
The Education Now Lab. Provost's Office ARCS. Illinois State University. (2025)
Understanding and Alleviating the Wicked Problem of Self-Management Adherence Among Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices and Their Caregivers Using AI-Powered Machine Learning and Gamification. Illinois State University. Illinois State University. (2025)
Building Community to Support Student Success in The School of Creative Technologies. Illinois State University. Illinois State University. (2024)
Sounding Actions (Stage2): Tangible and Wearable Systems for Analyzing Embodied Bowing Technique for Stringed Instruments. University Research Grant. Illinois State University. (2023)
Performances and Exhibits
Desquamation
Kristin Anne Carlson, Zahra Irannezhad, Laina Carney
The International Conference on Movement and Computing (MOCO). - June 28 2022
Kristin Anne Carlson, Zahra Irannezhad, Laina Carney
The International Conference on Movement and Computing (MOCO). - June 28 2022
Swoosh, Pop, and Kerplunk: Toys for Tangible Listening in Children
Kristin Anne Carlson, Greg Corness, Annie Sungkajun
The ACM International Conference on Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interaction (TEI). - February 2023
Kristin Anne Carlson, Greg Corness, Annie Sungkajun
The ACM International Conference on Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interaction (TEI). - February 2023
Abstract
Carlson, K. Ah Ha' Moments: Novice Choreographers Using Defamiliarization in Digital Choreographic Technologies. Leonardo Journal LABS Abstracts (2020)
Book, Chapter
Sun, p., Zinovieff, F., Carlson, K., & Muntean, R. Sonic Poetics of the Tidal Flats. Michael Filimowicz (EDs), Designing Interactions for Music and Sound. Routledge (2021)
Sun, p., Carlson, K., & Hennessy, K. Research-Creation as a Speculative Approach to Sound Design. Michael Filimowicz (EDs), Doing Research in Sound Design. Routledge (2020)
Carlson, K., Corness, G., & Sun, P. Case Study: Toys and Playful Devices. Filimowicz, Michael (EDs), Foundations in Sound Design for Embedded Media. Routledge (2018)
Conference Proceeding
Carlson, K., Tsaknaki, V., Fdili Alaoui, S., Homewood, S., Fritsch, J., Brynskov, A., Nunez-Pacheco, C., Spiel, K., Gillies, M., & Harrington, C. Body Politics: Unpacking Tensions and Future Perspectives for Body-Centric Design Research in HCI. Conference on Computer Human Interactions (2025)
Carlson, K., Corness, G., Casida, J., Russell, L., Cox, D., & Downie, S. Exploring Affective Interaction in Self-Management Adherence for Artificial Internal Organ Care. CHI Workshop on Affective Computing (2025)
Kalantari, M., Carlson, K., & Downie, S. The Bitter Truth: Virtual Reality Life Review Experience. The International Symposium for Electronic Art (2025)
Corness, G., Carlson, K., & Cherepanova, S. Catching the Inverse Ghosts: Exploring Spatial Impacts of Movement in Virtual Reality. The ACM Conference on Movement and Computing (MOCO) (2024)
Kim, W., Corness, G., & Carlson, K. Player Decision and Downtime in Competitive Games. Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA) (2024)
Carlson, K., Corness, G., Irannezhad, Z., Brucker, K., & Schlink, L. Sounds of Connection: Tactile Support of Family Engagement in Elderly Memory-Care Residents.. Electronic and Visual Arts London (EVA) (2023)
Corness, G., Carlson, K., & Sungkajun, A. Swoosh, Pop, and Kerplunk: Toys for Tangible Listening in Children. The ACM International Conference on Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interaction (TEI) (2023)
Carlson, K., Irannezhad, Z., & Carney, L. Desquamation. MOCO '22: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Movement and Computing (2022)
Carlson, K., Gill, L., Irannezhad, Z., Abdalla, A., Sungkajun, A., Bruner, S., & Jahraus, E. Uncharted Territories: Developing Digital Experiences for Anthropological and Archaeological Exploration. Electronic and Visual Arts (EVA) (2021)
Jadallah, M., Zhang, J., Green, C., Wu, Y., Studebaker, J., Carlson, K., McCloud, S., & Kirby, E. Digital Game Play: Any Association with Preteens’ Cognitive Ability Test Performance?. American Educational Research Association (2021)
Oyedokun, O., Carlson, K., & Sungkajun, A. Embraced Separation: Exploring Methods of Breath Attunement in Speculative Infant Swings. Electronic and Visual Arts (EVA) (2021)
Carlson, K., & Corness, G. Perceiving the Light: Exploring Embodied Cues in Interactive Agents for Dance. The International Symposium on Movement and Computing (MOCO) (2020)
Corness, G., & Carlson, K. Physical Time: A Model for Generating Rhythmic Gestures Based on Time Metaphors. Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Movement and Computing. Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Movement and Computing (2020): 1--6.
Buckley, Z., & Carlson, K. Towards a Framework for Composition Design for Music-Led Virtual Reality Experiences. 2019 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces (VR) (2019): 1497--1499.
Carlson, K., Alaoui, S., Corness, G., & Schiphorst, T. Shifting Spaces: Using Defamiliarization to Design Choreographic Technologies That Support Co-Creation. Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Movement and Computing. ACM (2019): 17:1--17:8.
Corness, G., & Carlson, K. Embodied Intention: Robot Spinal Initiation to Indicate Directionality. Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Movement and Computing. ACM (2019): 6:1--6:4.
Corness, G., & Carlson, K. Physicalizing Time Through Orientational Metaphors for Generating Rhythmic Gestures. Electronic and Visual Arts London (2018)
Hobby, K., Carlson, K., & Wheaton, D. Rehabilitating Experience: Designing an Aesthetic and Movement-based Game for Physical Therapy. Electronic and Visual Arts London (2017)
Sun, p., Carlson, K., Bizzocchi, J., & Schiphorst, T. Urban Mesh: Exploring Data, Biological Processes and Immersion in the Salmon People. The 23rd International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA2017) (2017)
Carlson, K., Pasquier, P., Tsang, H., Phillips, J., Schiphorst, T., & Calvert, T. Cochoreo: A Generative Feature in idanceForms for Creating Novel Keyframe Animation for Choreography. Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Computational Creativity (2016): 8.
Hobby, K., & Carlson, K. Living in the Moment: Exploring Aesthetic and Movement Quality Attributes to Create Successful Immersive Gameplay in Therapy. Meaningful Play Conference (2016)
Salevati, S., DiPaola, S., & Carlson, K. Movement Awareness through Emotion Based Aesthetic Visualization. Electronic Visualization and the Arts, EVA London (2016)
Sun, P., Cuykendall, S., Carlson, K., Lantin, M., & Schiphorst, T. spaceDisplaced: Investigating Presence Through Mediated Participatory Environments. Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on Movement and Computing. ACM (2016): 24:1--24:6.
Carlson, K., Schiphorst, T., Cochrane, K., Phillips, J., Tsang, H., & Calvert, T. Moment by Moment: Creating Movement Sketches with Camera Stillframes. Proceedings of the 2015 ACM SIGCHI Conference on Creativity and Cognition. ACM (2015): 131--140.
Carlson, K., Tsang, H., Phillips, J., Schiphorst, T., & Calvert, T. Sketching Movement: Designing Creativity Tools for In-situ, Whole-body Authorship. Proceedings of the 2Nd International Workshop on Movement and Computing. ACM (2015): 68--75.
Cochrane, K., Sun, p., Carlson, K., Lantin, M., & Schiphorst, T. Mother, Body, and Weather: An Artistic Exploration of Transcending the Physical Experience of Motherhood. The 21st International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA2015) (2015)
Corness, G., Seo, J., & Carlson, K. Perceiving Media Agents: Exploring Intention in a Robot Dance Partner. In Proceedings of the 21st Symposium on Electronic Art (2015)
Corness, G., Seo, J., & Carlson, K. Perceiving Physical Media Agents: Exploring Intention in a Robot Dance Partner. The 21st International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA2015) (2015)
Fdili Alaoui, S., Carlson, K., Cuykendall, S., Bradley, K., Studd, K., & Schiphorst, T. How Do Experts Observe Movement?. Proceedings of the 2Nd International Workshop on Movement and Computing. ACM (2015): 84--91.
Fdili Alaoui, S., Schiphorst, T., Cuykendall, S., Carlson, K., Studd, K., & Bradley, K. Strategies for Embodied Design: The Value and Challenges of Observing Movement. Proceedings of the 2015 ACM SIGCHI Conference on Creativity and Cognition. ACM (2015): 121--130.
Carlson, K., Schiphorst, T., & DiPaola, S. Collaborative Choreography: A Critical Inquiry into Designing Creative Interactive Systems. Reidsma, Dennis; Choi, Insook; Bargar, Robin (EDs), Intelligent Technologies for Interactive Entertainment. Springer International Publishing (2014): 46--56.
Fdili Alaoui, S., Carlson, K., & Schiphorst, T. Choreography As Mediated Through Compositional Tools for Movement: Constructing A Historical Perspective. Proceedings of the 2014 International Workshop on Movement and Computing. ACM (2014): 1:1--1:6.
Carlson, K., & Schiphorst, T. Designing Interaction for Designers: Defamiliarization in User's Creative Decision-making. Proceedings of the 9th ACM Conference on Creativity \& Cognition. ACM (2013): 300--303.
DiPaola, S., McCaig, G., Carlson, K., Salevati, S., & Sorenson, N. Adaptation of an Autonomous Creative Evolutionary System for Real-World Design Application Based on Creative Cognition. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Computational Creativity (2013): 40--48.
Journal Article
Carlson, K. Exploring Laban Movement Analysis in an AI Tool for Generating Catalysts for Creative Movement Choices. Journal of Laban Bartenieff Movement Studies 2 (2025)
Carlson, K., & Valentin, R. The Gamification of Code: Programming Through Play in Blended Classrooms. Emerging Techniques and Applications for Blended Learning in K-20 Classrooms (2020): 88--113.
Corness, G., & Carlson, K. Deconstructing Gesture: Investigating Embodied Motion. The International Symposium on Movement and Computing. ACM (2019)
Corness, G., Carlson, K., & Buckley, Z. Explorations in a Classroom Context of 3D Audio for Game Environments. The Future of Audio in VR Workshop IEEE VR. IEEE (2019)
Carlson, K., Sun, P., Cuykendall, S., Lantin, M., Schiphorst, T., & Corness, G. Beyond the Here and Now: Exploring Threaded Presence in Mediated, Improvised Performance. Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments 26.2 (2017): 97--110.
Carlson, K., Schiphorst, T., & DiPaola, S. Moving Collaborations: A Critical Inquiry Into Designing Creative Interactive Systems for Choreography. EAI Endorsed Trans. Creative Technologies 3 (2016): e1.
Other
Carlson, K. ‘Ah Ha’ Moments: Novice Choreographers Using Defamiliarization in Digital Choreographic Technologies. Communication, Art \& Technology: School of Interactive Arts and Technology (2016)
Software
DeKock, B., Carlson, K., & Corness, G. Motion Capture, Camera Tracking, Virtual Reality, and AI Tools: Exploring New and Emerging Technologies in Pedagogical Settings. International Society of Bassists (2025)
Boldt, B., Novy, T., Corness, G., & Carlson, K. StomaCareVR
Carlson, K., Corness, G., & DeKock, B. Analysis and Visualization of Embodied Bowing Technique for Stringed Instruments
Presentations
Collaboration with AI Through Teaching Practice in Creative Technologies. University Teaching and Learning Symposium: Emergent Technologies, Enduring Values: Reimagining Teaching for a New Era. ISU. (2025)
Collaboration with AI Through Teaching and Practice in Creative Technologies. AI & the Humanities: An Interdisciplinary Symposium. Illinois State University. (2025)
Creative Technologies in Nursing Applications. ISU Alumni Half Century Club. Illinois State University. (2025)
Implementing Responsible AI Use: Illinois State University 's Approach. HLC Annual Conference. HLC Higher Learning Commission. (2025)
Catching the Inverse Ghosts. International Conference on Movement and Computing. (2024)
Creative Technologies - The Keynote. High School Research Symposium. (2023)
Design Thinking in the Classroom: Teaching Empathy. ISU Teaching and Learning Symposium. (2023)
Sounds of Connection: Tactile Support of Family Engagement in Elderly Memory-Care Residents. Electronic Visualization and the Arts. (2023)
The Role of Technology in Dance Composition. UIUC Dance Makers. (2023)
Dance and Technology. Women in Dance (WID) Leadership Conference. (2022)
Tracking the Invisible: Following Movement Beyond Space and Time Markers. Milner Library Digital Humanities Series. Milner Library. (2020)
Can Technology Make You More Creative?. TEDx. (2018)