Kate Hartman

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About

Kate Hartman is a pioneering researcher and artist whose work sits at the intersection of wearable technology, human-computer interaction, and tactile communication. Her research centers on how physical, haptic interfaces can reshape interpersonal connection, moving beyond screen-based interaction to explore the body as a site for emotional and sensory exchange. In her highly cited pictorial "SOFT OBJECTS: Prototyping for Tactile Interpersonal Communication," Hartman investigates how soft, deformable materials can be used to prototype new forms of nonverbal, touch-based dialogue. This work, already garnering attention in the design and HCI communities, demonstrates her commitment to making intangible feelings tangible through low-fidelity, hands-on prototyping. Hartman’s contributions are notable for bridging art, design, and engineering, offering researchers and students a compelling framework for reimagining how we connect. Her approach challenges dominant visual and verbal paradigms, advocating for a more embodied, empathetic technology. As a professor and director of the Social Body Lab at OCAD University, she continues to inspire a new generation of practitioners to design with, and for, the human sensorium.