An Evening with Pippin Barr

Last Thursday, ARTSLab hosted an insightful and entertaining evening with Pippin Barr, a game designer, researcher, and professor whose work bridges the playful and the philosophical. As part of the Gale Memorial Lecture Series, Barr shared his unique approach to game design, exploring the ways games can be more than just entertainment—they can be tools for critical reflection, artistic expression, and even humor.

Currently an Associate Professor and department chair at Concordia University’s Department of Design and Computation Arts, Barr has worked on games that challenge conventions, from reimagining Marina Abramović’s performance art in digital form to riffing on Seinfeld nostalgia with @seinfeld2000. His projects explore topics as varied as airplane safety, chess, and parenting, all through the lens of interactive design.

Barr’s talk at ARTSLab delved into his creative process, the conceptual depth behind his games, and the larger cultural and philosophical questions they raise. Whether tackling user-interface metaphors or questioning the values embedded in video games, his work invites players to think about how games shape our experiences and interactions.

The Gale Memorial Lecture Series continues to bring thought-provoking artists and researchers to UNM, thanks to the generosity of Dr. David and Sylvia Gale. For those who missed the event, Barr’s work can be explored further at pippinbarr.com. Stay tuned for future lectures that challenge, inspire, and expand the conversation around art, technology, and design.