SciFi-VIS 2026 Workshop

About the Workshop

The SciFi-VIS workshop explores the two-way relationship between science fiction and visualization. We aim to bring together visualization researchers and science fiction creators to investigate how speculative ideas inspire visualization research and how visualization shapes our imagination of the future.

The program includes a keynote, lightning talks, brainstorming sessions, cross-disciplinary critique, and collaborative discussions to identify emerging themes and future research directions.

Call for Participation

If you prefer, a WikiCFP version of this call is available here.

Topics

SciFi-inspired visualization concepts and systems
Design processes and decisions in SciFi interfaces
Speculative and future-oriented visualization design
Feasibility and limits of speculative interfaces
Evaluation of speculative and imagined visualization systems
Physics-based visualizations in SciFi media
Shape-changing visualizations in SciFi media
References between SciFi and visualization work

Submission Types

Short papers and position papers
Speculative and future-oriented visualization design
Posters, demos, or show-and-tell artifacts
Curated SciFi examples (e.g., scene breakdowns + analysis)
Speculative designs and artistic explorations

Work in progress and exploratory ideas are welcome!

Submission Length

Papers, reports, or documentation: up to 1000 words (approx. 2-4 pages)
Other formats: flexible (short is better)

Submission Format

VGTC template recommended
Up to 4 figures encouraged
Ensure proper copyright and attribution

Submission Instructions:

We use the PCS platform
Under Submissions, pick Society: VGTC, Conference/Journal: VIS 2026, and Track SciFi-VIS

Please note: This workshop is non-archival! Accepted submissions may optionally be hosted on this website or an open repository

Organizers

Ulrik Günther

Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e.V., Germany

Julián Méndez

Interactive Media Lab Dresden, TU Dresden, Germany

Gabriela Molina León

Aarhus University, Denmark

Samuel Pantze

Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS), Görlitz, Germany

Mario Romero

Linköping University, Sweden

Abdulhaq Adetunji Salako

Institute of Visual and Analytic Computing, University of Rostock, Germany

$Annalena Ulschmid$

Annalena Ulschmid

TU Wien, Austria

For any questions, please feel free to contact us at: scifi-vis@googlegroups.com!

We Are Not The First — Related works studying SciFi:


      ACM CHI panels chaired by Aaron Marcus, about SciFi writers trying to predict future UIs
      [1992, 
      1999].


      ACE workshop to create a research agenda about SciFi-inspired HCI research 
      [2016].


       IEEE VIS VisFutures workshop on to envision futuristic design tools 
       [2020].


      Two HCII workshops on HCI/UX in Science Fiction Movies/TV 
      [2021, 
      2022].


      The blog website scifiinterfaces.com by Christopher Noessel, extensively analyzing SciFi movies/TV.

Are you aware of more? Help us feature them by telling us at: scifi-vis@googlegroups.com!