Growing the Field
I believe it's important we openly share our practices, especially in the real-world, public-facing work we do. Given the complexity and often ephemeral nature of this work, others need to benefit from our (sometimes hard) lessons learned. We all must contribute to the collective knowledge by discussing the challenges, successes, and insights from our experiences, capturing the unique experiential aspects along the way.
Panels and Publications
2024
San Francisco Design Week. (2024). Innovations in Immersive Experiences panel. Memory Care Experience Station.
2023
Mortati, M. (2023). Designing for people living with dementia: Multisensory immersion. Design Principles and Practices: An International Journal -- Annual Review, 16, 131-149. https://doi.org/10.18848/1833-1874/CGP/v16i01/131-149
2022
Mortati, M. (2022). Designing for People Living with Dementia: Principles for Experiential and Environmental Design. 16th International Conference on Design Principles and Practices.
Ilsley-Greene, L. (2022, May 17). SFCJL’s virtual memory care earns recognition from Fast Company. Jewish News of Northern California.
Fast Company. (2022). World-Changing Ideas: Finalist, Memory Care Experience Station.
2021
SCAN Innovation Award Webinar. (2021). Experience Station for the San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living.
Association of Science and Technology Centers Annual Conference. (2021). Creating Exhibits for Visitors with Dementia.
SCAN Foundation. (2021). Innovation Award: Honorable Mention.
2020
Diversity Reboot Summit by PowerToFly. (2020). Everything Changes, Everything Is the Same: The Future of Public Interactive Experiences.
INFOCOMM. (2020). Q+A: Artist and Designer Maria Mortati Contemplates Shared Experiences in This New World.
American Association of Museums Annual Conference. (2020). Three Models for Bridging Wellness in Museums.
2016
Computer-Human Interaction Conference (CHI). (2016). Keynote: Involving the Crowd in the Future of Museum Experience Design.
2015
WestMusings. (2015). Tell Me Where the Mirrors Go, keynote.
Public Dialogue Workshop, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. (2015, May). Invited participant.
American Association of Museums Annual Conference. (2015, April). Exhibitions Outside the Museum.
Indianapolis Museum of Art, Contemporary Arts Society. (2015, March). Speaker.
Institute at the Golden Gate. (2015, November). Parks: The New Climate Classroom panelist.
2014
Mortati, M. (2014). Design Intentionality and the Art Museum. Exhibition: Journal on Exhibition Making, Spring 2014, 34-39.
American Association of Museums Annual Conference. (2014). Design’s Impact on Visitor Engagement.
National Arts Education Association Annual Conference. (2014). Making Room for Participation: The Changing Space of Art Museum Education.
New Presidio Parklands. (2014, September). Program Advisor.
Presidio Exchange, Presidio Gateway Charette. (2014, May). Program Advisor.
Open Engagement Annual Conference. (2014, April). Social Practice and the Art Museum.
Contemporary Jewish Museum. (2014, October). Stage Interview: The Creative Classroom. [Video].
2012
Global Exhibit Forum, Gotland, Sweden. Keynote: “Engagement, Art, and Often Children.”
Center for the Future of Museums. Panelist: “Innovation Lab for Museums.”
American Association of Museums Annual Conference. Panelist: “Future of Exhibiting: Voices from Non-Traditional Museums.”
American Association of Museums Annual Conference. Chair: “Experimental Projects: Creating a Community of Practice.”
Wall Street Journal. “New at Museums: Science for All Ages,” March 2, 2012.
Mortati, M. (2012). “Large Lessons from a Small Project: The San Francisco Mobile Museum.” Exhibition, American Association of Museums, Spring 2012, pp. 32-37.
Quoted in: TrendsWatch 2012: Museums and the Pulse of the Future, American Association of Museums’ Center for the Future of Museums. Featured project: The San Francisco Mobile Museum as an example of emerging trends in the museum sector.
2011
Simon, N. (2011). The Participatory Museum. Edited by Maria Mortati with others. Santa Cruz, CA: Museum 2.0.
Center for the Future of Museums. Panelist: “Innovation Lab for Museums.”
2009–2013
The San Francisco Mobile Museum blog. Author/Founder. sfmobilemuseum.blogspot.com.
2008–2012
Museums Now blog. Primary Author/Founder. museums-now.blogspot.com.
2009
Mortati, M. (2009). “Prototype Power!”. Ambidextrous: Stanford University’s Journal of Design, 11, 24-25.
Western Museums Association. Guest Post: “Looking for Loci: a mobile museum experiment.”
N.A.M.E. Journal Exhibition, “Creativity and Collaboration Retreat,” Fall.
Exhibition Catalog. Author: “Power of the Prototype.”
2007
Mortati, M. (2007). White Paper: “Starting and Fostering Online Communities.”
2003
Exhibition Catalog. Author: “Bay Area Furniture Art.”
2001
Vanhoucke, V., Neeley, W. L., Mortati, M., Sloan, M., & Nass, C. (2001). “Effects of Prompt Style when Navigating through Structured Data.” In Proceedings of the IFIP TC13 International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction.
Grants and Awards
Centre for Advancement in Brain Health Institute (CABHI), 2nd Spark Grant
San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living, Memory Care Experience Station, 2023
Note: CABHI invited us to apply for a 2nd Spark+ grant, awarding us as the only US project. They provided additional funds to ensure the project's success.
Sephardic Foundation on Aging, Dementia Care and Brain Degenerative Diseases Grant
San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living, Memory Care Experience Station, 2022
Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards, Experimental Category, Finalist
San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living, Memory Care Experience Station, 2022
Leading Age California Innovation Award Finalist
San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living, Memory Care Experience Station, 2022
SCAN Foundation Innovation Award
San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living, Memory Care Experience Station, 2021
Anonymous Donor Grant
San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living, Memory Care Experience Station, 2021
Centre for Advancement in Brain Health Institute (CABHI), 1st Spark Grant
San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living, Memory Care Experience Station, 2019
Pam and Larry Baer, Private Grant
San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living, Memory Care Experience Station, 2020
Public Bond, Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
Awarded to Gyroscope Inc. while Project Lead, 2006
Irvine Foundation’s New California Arts Fund grant
Awarded to the Oakland Museum of California to fund “Mirrors”
Interviews and Press
2025
Interview: Bialke Health and Wellness podcast. Episode 2: “Wellness and Wonder” [in development]
2022
Interview: Crazy Bird Design Podcast, Episode 2: "On empathy, community-centered design, and a healthy dose of curiosity."
2021
Interview: Ultra International B.V magazine, "The Scent of Hope: Using Essential Oils to Treat Dementia."
2020
Interview: INFOCOMM Q+A: "Artist and Designer Maria Mortati Contemplates Shared Experiences in This New World."
Interview: TIDE Generator, "How Museums Are Creating a New Narrative."
Interview: Museum FAQ: "Understanding Priorities: What Happens When You Can’t Prototype in Person."
2015
Featured in Public Art Review, "Museums Go Public," Fall/Winter.
2014
Interview: The Creative Classroom, Contemporary Jewish Museum, on stage, live, October.
2013
Interview: Walker Art Center, Internet Cat Video Festival.
2012
Press: Wall Street Journal, "New at Museums: Science for All Ages," March 2.
Interview: Machine Project, "The Great Calculation Residency" (video).
2009
Merritt, E. "Tomorrow’s News, Today: Museums Without Walls." Center for the Future of Museums Blog, American Alliance of Museums, October 1. Retrieved from https://www.aam-us.org/2009/10/01/tomorrows-news-today-museums-without-walls/.
2003
Press: San Francisco Chronicle, "Sitting on the Edge: Art Furniture Show in the Mission Gives the Mind New Places to Rest."
2000
Press: World Sculpture News, "Forever on the Move: San Francisco Bay Area Overview," Winter.
Residencies and Shows
2024
San Francisco Design Week, Captivate Exhibition, Memory Care Experience Station.
2015
Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, Street-front Exhibition, London, ongoing.
Oakland Museum of California, "Tell Me Where The Mirrors Go," Artist Project, May – July 2015.
2014
Walker Art Center, "Flux Field," Research Residency.
2013
Walker Art Center, Internet Cat Video Festival, "People Imitating Cats" installation and event.
Southern Exposure Gallery, "The Great Calculation," Residency with events and an exhibition.
2012
Machine Project, "The Great Calculation," Residency with events and an exhibition.
Baltimore Museum of Art, "The Big Table Gallery," Open Studio Gallery.
Machine Project at the Hammer Museum, Residency, "The Giant Hand."
2011
Hammer Museum, Phil Ross’ "Enormous Microscopic Evening, DIY Microscope Bar."
2010
Exploratorium After Dark, SF Mobile Museum, "Free Shrines."
2009
Phil Ross’ Critter Salon, "Enormous Microscopic Evening, DIY Microscope Bar."
SF Mobile Museum, multiple sites, "Looking for Loci."
Studio for Urban Projects, SF Mobile Museum, "Looking for Loci."
MakerFaire, "Power of the Prototype," exhibit.
2003
Bay Area Furniture Art, Co-Founder/Co-Curator, Blue Room.
1999
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Bay Area Now 2, "Metatherapy.com."
Teaching
As an adjunct, I taught a variety of graduate and undergraduate Interaction Design Studios at California College of the Arts, including mentoring graduate thesis students. My work focuses on public interaction design in particular. Their work has been situated at sites across the Bay Area: museums, libraries, homes, and businesses.
Courses:
Center for Impact, Sustainability Studio, Fall 2019
Graduate Studio, Interaction Design, Spring 2018
Graduate Studio, Interaction Design Foundations, Fall 2017
Graduate Design, Thesis Research and Development, Fall 2017
Graduate Studio, Interaction Design Foundations, Spring 2017
Public Interaction Design Studio (with Scott Minneman), Fall 2016
Graduate Design, Thesis Research and Development, Fall 2016
Graduate Design, Interaction Design Studio, Spring 2016
Graduate Design, Public Interaction Design Studio (with Scott Minneman), Fall 2015
Graduate Design Thesis R & D and Grad Design Studio, Spring 2015
Graduate Design, Public Interaction Design Studio (with Scott Minneman), 2014
Graduate Design, Thesis R & D, Fall 2013
Graduate Design, Public Interaction Design Studio (with Scott Minneman), Spring 2013