In this hybrid in-person and virtual exchange, U.S. lead artist, Jessica Jabr, will facilitate a workshop series introducing creative practices in emerging media that give access to new forms of expression. Participants will learn rapid prototyping techniques for human-centered interactive media design as they explore the cultural and creative industries in Jordan. They will apply ethical design and technology principles to the practice of storytelling through digital and physical media. The Lab is an amalgamation of collective research, experiential learning, and co-design with a focus on local communities to create impactful pieces of media & interactive art. This collaborative project is open to participants of all skill levels who are excited to learn together and create a technology based art installation.

Creative Impact Lab Amman (2023) is a Leonardo international exchange supported by U.S. Embassy Amman and hosted by IDare for Sustainable Development.

Lead Artist

Jessica Jabr

Jessica Jabr (she/her/hers) is a Lebanese born-New York based business professional and design technologist. She holds a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Design & Technology from Parsons School of Design - The New School in New York City and a Bachelors degree of Business Administration in Management from Arts, Sciences, and Technology University in Lebanon. Her work experience in programs, entrepreneurship, and emerging technology fuels her projects where she  blends art, business, and tech.

She’s currently a visiting assistant professor at Pratt Institute, teaching Transformation Design Studio under the  Graduate Communications Design program and a lecturer at the Design&Technology BFA program at Parsons School of Design, The New School, where she gives the Objects Lab which involves interaction design and physical computing.
     
She has worked in the global startup/tech/media ecosystem while based in the Middle East and helped hundreds of startups and entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses through building and running support programs. Previously, she was in charge of the Innovation Management & Entrepreneurship Center at AUB, and handled programs, activations, entrepreneur & investors engagement at Arabnet (one of the biggest startup/tech ecosystems in the MENA region). She also managed the Lebanese Rural Development Association’s EU fund where she launched their project across Lebanon in 2016.

Her design-tech work is a combination of creating interaction on and off the screen, where the audience is immersed in the built environments. The core of her work is based on human-computer interaction. She designs user experiences intuitively and builds technology with human wellbeing at the forefront.

She brings with her a wealth of experience in global tech-entrepreneurship management, and has a deep understanding of organizational structures, leadership, consumer behavior, marketing, and the corporate space with a global perspective on digital transformation, business models, and hacking growth strategies to push organizations forward.

Host Partner

IDare for Sustainable Development

IDare for Sustainable Development is a not-for-profit organization established in October 2013. As a social venture, the core of IDare's actions are based on social marketing (community change behavior) from the early stages of idea development to the successful achievement of the desired impact.

IDare believes in youth as the driving force towards development in its comprehensive sustainable concept where social, economic, and political dimensions are equally respected. IDare exists to be the platform for the voice and efforts of young active citizens in transforming their societies to achieve remarkable success in all their endeavors.

Sponsor

US Embassy Amman

The mission of the United States Embassy is to advance the interests of the United States, and to serve and protect U.S. citizens in Jordan.