Research & Conversations
This page brings together research, exhibitions, talks, workshops, and projects accumulated over more than two decades. From early experiments in interactive media and large-scale digital installations to current work on AI, creativity, education, and 13Collections (13C), each activity reflects an ongoing interest in how people create, learn, and adapt in changing technological and cultural contexts.
Organised into three periods, Early (1999–2001), Industry (2003–2011), and Current (2021–present), these works are presented not as separate chapters, but as different expressions of a continuing inquiry.
ORCID: 0009-0002-0170-3691
Insight & Impact: Closing the Education-Industry Loop from
Placement Evidence.
Conference of the EARLI SIG 18 - Educational Effectiveness and Improvement. Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium. (Sep 2026) [Research & Round Table].
Research Co-authored with Dr. Perez M.F.
From Image to Territory: Monochrome Photography as Operative Cartography in Interior Systems.
2026 ASC Conference (American Society for Cybernetics), Conversational Confluences. Ouro Preto, Brazil. (Aug 2026) [Research Abstract].
13Collections: Monochrome Atmospheres as Global Visual Translation.
2026 Global Arts Festival. Ohio University, Ohio, USA. (Mar 2026) [Research Abstract].
Relational AI personas in everyday ubiquity: Embodied & Situated Design Methods for Sustainable, Plural Futures.
UbiComp/ISWC 2025 (ACM) 29th annual International Symposium on Wearable Computers. (Published ACM-DL) Aalto University, Espoo, Finland (Oct 2025) [Research-Workshop & Presenter]. 
Research workshop, Co-authored with Dr. Yeoh K.C.
CultTech Accelerator, Mentor Network 2025
Selected as one of 69 mentors in CultTech’s global mentor network for the 2025 accelerator cohort, which supports 17 culture-tech startups worldwide. The role recognizes Julius’s work at the intersection of art, emerging technologies and strategic practice. CultTech Association, Vienna, Austria. April-October 2025.
Navigating the Digital Shift: The Future of Art Markets in the Era of Virtual Events.
9th International Workshop on Researching Art Markets past & present: Tools for the future (RAM-T). School of Culture & Creative Arts, University of Glasgow, UK, 23-24 October 2024.
Exploratory research, Co-authored with Valentino S.
Understanding the Metaverse & Web3 Concept: Business Opportunities.
Guest lecture · recurring session for each new postgraduate cohort · Tech Futures Lab, Auckland, New Zealand · 2022 - 2024 · POAP issued to participants.
Generative AI and Interior Design Practice.
Panelist · Masterclass · School of Art, Design & Fashion, Istituto Marangoni Miami, USA · October 2024.
Integrating AI in Education: Core Principles and Sustainable Practice.
Workshop · Centre for Lifelong Education, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts & University of the Arts Singapore, Singapore · August 2024.
Integrating Krashen’s Theories with Emerging Technologies in ESL Learning: A Pathway to Innovation.
• 6th International Workshop on Artificial Intelligence and Education (WAIE 2024) — Best Presentation Award. Tokyo, Japan, 29-30 September 2024.
• 5th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education Technology (AIET 2024), University of Barcelona, Spain, 29-31 July 2024.
Exploratory research, Co-authored with Lin V. H.
How International Businesses Play the “Rules of the Game”: Navigating Culture and Ethics Across Markets.
Invited talk · International School of Business, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam · February 2024.
Spatial Web Is the New Frontier.
Podcast interview · Irish Tech News (with spongelii inc. founder Al Jones) · November 2023.
Hospitality Net’s Definitive Metaverse Glossary
Published by Hospitality Net, Travel Singularity & Polybius, Vol. 1 & 2, 2023.
Content contributor.
Web3 Transformation through AI & SocialFi.
Panel talk · DCentral Tokyo Conference, Japan · September 2023.
Navigating New Horizons: Embracing NFTs and the Metaverse in Photographic Artistry.
Invited talk · Hong Kong Photobook Award Festival, Hong Kong · July 2023.
NFTs, the Metaverse, and Emerging Opportunities for Graduate Students.
Invited talk · Visual Communication, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE · September 2022.
Beyond Display: Using VR Galleries as Client Workspaces.
Host talk on virtual space · Metaverse Explorer LinkedIn Group · Online · September 2022.
Measuring human eye tolerance towards the digital typography sharpness on a high-density pixel computer screen: An indicative study.
2021 International Conference on Computational Intelligence and Knowledge Economy (ICCIKE). Published IEEE Explore. Amity University, Dubai, UAE, 17-18 March 2021.
Published research paper, Co-authored with Dr. M. M. Bishnoi and Dr. A. Singh.
Marketing, Branding & Emerging Technology: Visual Identity in Pacific and South-East Asia.
Online lectures · Amity University, New York, NY, USA · June 2020.
Presentations at consecutive International Symposium on Electronic Art editions, ISEA 2014 in Dubai and ISEA 2015 in Vancouver, marked a reconnection with international artistic and scholarly communities. Rather than a new beginning, these projects represented a continuation of questions first explored in earlier years, laying foundations for current work in creativity, education, AI, and human experience.
Industry (2003 - now)
During this period, ideas developed through earlier explorations found expression in interactive installations, museum experiences, digital systems, and public projects across Singapore. Working with cultural institutions, government initiatives, and private-sector clients provided opportunities to observe how people engage with technology in everyday settings, deepening an ongoing interest in the relationship between art, design, and human experience. Selected projects can be explored on the Projects page.
Early (1999 - 2001)
Julius’s early explorations in interactive media, generative systems, and online learning marked the beginning of an ongoing inquiry into creativity, human interaction, and technological change. Participation in international art and technology conferences provided an early glimpse into emerging ideas and communities, while laying foundations that continue to resonate throughout his current research and creative practice.
- 4th Computers in Art and Design Education: Crossing the Border (CADE 2001). Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, Scotland, 9-12 April 2001.
- 27th SIGGRAPH 2000. New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 23-28 July 2000.
- TRANSMEDIALE 2000. Berlin, Germany, 11-20 February 2000.
- First Iteration - A Conference on Generative Systems in the Electronic Arts. Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, December 1999.
Academic Practice & Leadership
Over the past 25 years, Julius Yls has taught, designed curricula, and held academic leadership roles across institutions in New Zealand, Singapore, the Middle East, and China. Working across different cultures, education systems, and creative disciplines has shaped a perspective that connects practice, research, and leadership, while providing opportunities to observe how people learn, create, and adapt in changing contexts.
