Design Professor and EVL Faculty Daria Tsoupikova Presents Creativity, Collaboration, and Critique in the Age of AI and Immersive Technologies at CAA 114

UIC Design Professor and EVL faculty member Daria Tsoupikova presented her development and experience in producing the interdisciplinary, collaborative VR Live Theater performance Hummingbird at the 114th College Art Association Conference held in Chicago February 20, 2026. Tsoupikova presented at the session entitled “Creativity, Collaboration, and Critique in the Age of AI and Immersive Technologies.” This session examined how emerging technologies - from generative AI to virtual reality - are reshaping art and design education, practice, and theory. The presentations addressed the challenges and opportunities of teaching AI across the curriculum, rethinking artistic labor and aura in an era of machine collaboration, and creating interdisciplinary projects that blend performance, creative coding, and immersive media. Together, these talks highlighted how designers, educators and artists can engage critically with technology to expand creative expression, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, amplify student voices, and reimagine the future of studio-based learning.

Tsoupikova’s presentation “Interdisciplinary Collaboration Developing VR and Live Theater Hummingbird Performances” told the story of the collaboration, development and showcasing of Hummingbird, an award-winning, immersive virtual reality (VR) performance that merges live theater with interactive storytelling, fostering collaboration and active audience participation. Developed through an interdisciplinary partnership among computer scientists, designers, theater professionals, and over 30 students, the production explores innovative methodologies for VR theater. Tsoupikova’s talk examines the collaborative processes, theoretical challenges, and technological advancements behind Hummingbird, which serves as a prototype for integrating VR with live performance.

At its core, Hummingbird is a coming-of-age story that empowers participants by granting them agency within the narrative. Five audience members engage directly with a lead actor in a responsive, collaborative adventure, utilizing problem-solving, teamwork, and storytelling skills. The production has been performed at the Goodman Theatre, Chicago Children’s Theater, and the Immersive Pavilion in Vancouver, reaching over 500 audience members. Through a qualitative analysis of audience experiences and collaboration findings, we identify key design considerations for interdisciplinary VR theater production. Our insights contribute to the development of collaborative systems that enhance live performance through VR, demonstrating how this medium can push the boundaries of traditional theater and make immersive storytelling more accessible. Hummingbird exemplifies the potential of VR to revolutionize theatrical narratives, offering a model for cross-disciplinary education and future partnerships between nonprofit theater and academic research.

Link: https://caa.confex.com/caa/2026/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/28958