IVU Talk: From Professional Design & Development to End-User Development through Meta-Design, Symbiotic AI Systems, and Generative AI

The IVU Lab is pleased to announce a visiting talk by Prof. Antonio Piccinno during his visiting period at the Programa de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computação (PESC), COPPE - Instituto Alberto Luiz Coimbra, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, invited by Prof. Guilherme Horta Travassos (Full Professor, PESC/COPPE/UFRJ).

📅 Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2026

🕥 Time: 10:30 AM

📍 Location: H-324-B, Centro de Tecnologia, Cidade Universitária

🎥 Hybrid event – also streamed via the official PESC YouTube channel

You can watch the video on YouTube, or using this player.

Abstract

The evolution of software development has moved far beyond the traditional paradigm in which professional designers and engineers exclusively shape systems for passive end users. Today, the rise of End-User Development (EUD), empowered by Meta-Design principles, enables domain experts—non-programmers with deep knowledge of their fields—to actively participate in creating, tailoring, and evolving the digital tools they use daily.

This participatory shift redefines roles, blurs the boundaries between users and developers, and fosters socio-technical ecosystems in which systems and users co-evolve.

In parallel, Generative AI (GenAI) is transforming how humans conceptualize, design, and interact with software. Rather than serving merely as an automation tool, GenAI can function as a dynamic, responsive partner that adapts to user needs in real time. However, integrating AI into EUD and Meta-Design contexts requires more than technical expertise—it calls for intentional prompt engineering, ethical awareness, and the cultivation of human–AI symbiotic relationships.

This lecture explores:

  • The historical trajectory from professional design to participatory and end-user-driven development
  • The role of Meta-Design in fostering cultures of participation
  • The opportunities and risks of integrating Generative AI into EUD environments
  • Emerging frameworks for responsible prompt design that ensure transparency, controllability, and alignment with human values

Through theoretical foundations and real-world examples, participants will reflect on how humans and AI can co-create not only software, but more inclusive and evolving digital ecosystems.

About the Speaker

Antonio Piccinno's headshot

Antonio Piccinno is Associate Professor of Human-Computer Interaction at the University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Italy. He is the founder of the IVU Lab (Interaction, Visualization, Usability & UX), where he leads research at the intersection of HCI and Software Engineering, with a focus on End-User Development.

His research interests include Human-Centered Design, Adaptive Interfaces, Multimodal Interaction, Secure Software Analysis & Design, and Symbiotic AI systems. He has authored over 150 publications and plays key international roles, including Chair of the Steering Committee of the IS-EUD Symposium and Expert Member & Coordinator in IFIP TC13.