Art-science: Artists as researchers

The research of Waag Futurelab democratises knowledge development, and focuses on matters of concern and societal issues. We call this practice Public Research. Art-science is one of Waag's Public Research methods: artistic research within art and science. Waag employs creative practices and transdisciplinary methods to encourage society to question and engage with science and technology. These methods enable different forms of critical knowledge production and experiences and critically broaden perspectives through material-felt practices.

Since its origin, Waag has developed art-science projects to address the present complexities. Through the creative perspective of artists and designers, it supports open, fair, and inclusive technologies and science development. Waag supports transdisciplinary art-science practices through events, fellowships, access to knowledge and lab spaces, commissions, and co-creation practices.

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Waag Futurelab bridges art, science, and society through practice-driven research and artistic collaboration. Using research through making, we engage artists, makers, and communities to explore bio-art, socially engaged practices, textile and maker research, and open design—producing both artworks and new knowledge.We design and manage artistic residencies, supporting artists as researchers whose work drives social, environmental, and economic impact. Through strategic collaborations with industry, science, and social institutions, we integrate artistic methods into research and innovation, fostering creative capacity and organizational learning. By embedding art in research ecosystems, we cultivate a network of artists, scientists, and makers, shaping new ways of thinking, making, and innovating.

Among Waag’s research methodologies, working with art-science, we integrate artistic, technological, and social inquiry. Our approach includes Open Design, Critical Making, and Co-creation, fostering collaboration between artists, scientists, and communities. We explore the Public Stack and Planetary Public Stack, advocating for open, democratic, and sustainable technologies. Grounded in artistic practice as research, we conduct these methodologies within our own projects and offer them as workshops for other organizations, expanding the impact of creative research across disciplines.

Waag offers a dynamic platform for artistic and scientific exchange, organizing exhibitions, talks, conferences, and open calls while providing curatorial and production support. Our workshops and educational programs—spanning textiles, fabrication, open design, and bio-art—equip participants with hands-on skills and critical perspectives. Through award and prize design, Waag highlights groundbreaking work at the intersection of art and innovation. As a hub for long-term research, Waag connects artists, scientists, and industry partners, fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange.