Hi, I am aru (Anna Rebecca Unterholzner, PhD), a transdisciplinary artist, designer, professor, and researcher working at the intersection of interactive media, game design, immersive systems, and artistic practice. My work combines research on neuroaesthetics, affect, and emotion with storytelling, emerging technologies, and human-centred design across digital and physical media.
Alongside my academic work as Professor of Game Design and Development at Macromedia University of Applied Sciences (Germany), and previous teaching as Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Évora (Portugal), I have worked across a range of multimedia art and design projects spanning interactive experiences, digital media, visual communication, and creative technologies. My practice moves fluidly between the artistic, cultural, academic, and design worlds, often blending research with hands-on creative production.
Unterholzner, A.R., Lange, T. & Lokhmankina, K. Playing the Body: Somatic Interoception as Affective Ludic Literacy in Indie Impact Game Design, Video Game Cultures 2026: Ludic Literacies – Learning Across Playful Contexts, forthcoming.
Breidenich, C. & Unterholzner, A.R. Hyper Aesthetics: Rethinking Aesthetic Theory in Design Education Through Hyperlinear Knowledge Systems, dmi: Academic Design Management Conference Leading Design & Innovation Research & Education in the Age of AI, August 11–12, 2026, Georgia Tech Atlanta, GA, USA, forthcoming.
Lohmar, H., Spiller, R., Breidenich, C. & Unterholzner, A.R. An Exploratory Study of Design Literacy Trough Krippendorff`s Trajectory of Artificiality, dmi: Academic Design Management Conference Leading Design & Innovation Research & Education in the Age of AI, August 11–12, 2026, Georgia Tech Atlanta, GA, USA, forthcoming.
Unterholzner, A. R. Subverting TikTok and Mass Media in Education: Leveraging Digital Media for Engaging Classroom Presentations and Innovating Pedagogical Strategies, Book of Abstracts. Multimodus'25, University of Évora & Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, Portugal.
Silva, S. Do Tear ao Digital: arte têxtil com IA [From Loom to Digital: Textile Art with AI]. Urbietorbi, University of Beira Interior, Portugal.
Unterholzner, A. R. How to play with emotions and senses: the affective turn, neuroaesthetics, and artistic research. In P. Gouveia & T. V. Furtado (Eds.), Multimedia and transmedia arts and design based-research: Collaborative and ludic experiences / Investigação baseada em artes e design multimédia e transmédia: Experiências colaborativas e lúdicas. University of Évora / CHAIA. ISBN: 978-972-778-406-6.
Unterholzner, A. R. Imagining Without a Brain: Exploring Jellyfish Sensory Systems as Clues to Emotion and Cognition through Art (forthcoming). #23.ART – International Meeting of Art and Technology.
Breidenich, C. & Unterholzner, A. R. Learning Formats for Theory Courses in Graphic Design Undergraduate Programmes. In Design, Learning, and Innovation – DLI 2024, Springer Nature.
Unterholzner, A. R. Liquefação/Liquefaction versus Endurecimento/Rigidification: AR Installation. In [e]motion, UCP Editora. ISBN: 9789725410677. View on ResearchGate.
Unterholzner, A. R. Gaming, Art, and Emotions: The Challenges of Neuroaesthetics. PhD Thesis. Available here.
Unterholzner, A. R., & Gouveia, P. The heartbeat, neuroaesthetics, artistic research, and creation through mind and emotions. In Creating through mind and emotions: PHI 2021. CRC Press. Routledge. doi:10.1201/9780429299070. Available here.
Gouveia, P., Carvalho, D., Unterholzner, A., & Lima, L. (2022). The expanded world of invisible images: Anna Unterholzner's and Diana Carvalho's artworks. In ISEA 2022 Possibles – International Symposium on Electronic Art (Theme: Educations and Societies). Available here.
Gouveia, P., Carvalho, D., Unterholzner, A., & Lima, L. (2022). O mundo expandido das imagens invisíveis. Obras artísticas de Anna Unterholzner e Diana Carvalho. In P. A. Castro (Ed.), Descuido. Ensaios para pensar um conceito. Congresso Internacional O Descuido / International Congress Carelessness, Instituto de Estudos Filosóficos, Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Coimbra, October 21, 2021.
Gouveia, P., Unterholzner, A., & Lima, L. (2022). Interactive multimedia experiences in higher education, gaming, augmented and virtual reality, and research. In C.-A. Lane (Ed.), Acquiring 21st century literacy skills through game-based learning (pp. 180–193). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-7271-9.ch010.
Lima, L., Pinto, C., Unterholzner, A., & Gouveia, P. (2022). Digital games and mental health: A scoping review of gaming disorder in the last decade. In Digital therapies in psychosocial rehabilitation and mental health (Chapter 7, pp. 142–162). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-8634-1.ch007.
Unterholzner, A. (2022). The ABC speaks many languages. In M. Wong (Ed.), Dictionary Stories: 13 stories written with example sentences and illustrations found in dictionaries. Available at Tigre de Papel, Lisbon; STET, Lisbon; Franklin Furnace Artists' Books Collection, MoMA, New York; and Hyper Hypo Books, Athens.
Lightning talk Hyperaesthetics, Parallel Society, counter culture convergence, 6–7 March 2026, Marvila, Lisbon, Portugal.
Hyper Aesthetics: Rethinking Aesthetic Theory in Design Education Through Hyperlinear Knowledge Systems, dmi: Academic Design Management Conference Leading Design & Innovation Research & Education in the Age of AI, August 11–12, 2026, Georgia Tech Atlanta, GA, USA.
An Exploratory Study of Design Literacy Trough Krippendorff`s Trajectory of Artificiality, dmi: Academic Design Management Conference Leading Design & Innovation Research & Education in the Age of AI, August 11–12, 2026, Georgia Tech Atlanta, GA, USA.
Playing the Body: Somatic Interoception as Affective Ludic Literacy in Indie Impact Game Design, Video Game Cultures 2026: Ludic Literacies – Learning Across Playful Contexts, Klagenfurt, Austria, September, 3-5, 2026..
Invited artist talk In Between Games, Design, Art & Tech, Dr Pedro Ferreira's seminar Moving Image/Interactive Design, German International University, Berlin.
Subverting TikTok and Mass Media in Education, Multimodus'25, University of Évora & Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, Portugal.
ENDLESS Emotions: Weaving with AI, Heritage & the Affective Turn, TEIAS TALKS VI, with Prof. Catarina Moura, New Hand Lab, Covilhã, Portugal.
touch-project with Julia Rauch and Association Mosae, maisunomaisum residency, Creative Hub, Mouraria, Lisbon.
Artificial Intelligence and the Role It Can Play in the Development Sector—Informed by Art, GIZ Office, Lilongwe, Malawi.
How to play with emotions and senses: the affective turn, neuroaesthetics, and artistic research. Multimedia and Transmedia Arts and Design Based-Research, University of Évora, CHAIA.
Imagining Without a Brain: Exploring Jellyfish Sensory Systems as Clues to Emotion and Cognition through Art. #23.ART – International Meeting of Art and Technology.
Breidenich, C. & Unterholzner, A. R. Learning Formats for Theory Courses in Graphic Design Undergraduate Programmes. DLI 2024, Springer Nature.
Invited artist talk Gaming, Neuroaesthetics, Emotions, Gender Equity and Interactive Media, Victoria Tarak's seminar Spaces of Wildness, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany.
Gouveia P., Carvalho D., Unterholzner A. & Lima L. The expanded world of invisible images: Anna Unterholzner's and Diana Carvalho's artworks., ISEA 2022, Barcelona, Spain.
Gouveia P., Carvalho D., Unterholzner A. & Lima L. O mundo expandido das imagens invisíveis, Congresso Internacional O Descuido, Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal.
Artist talk Liquefação/Liquefaction vs Endurecimento/Rigidification – AR installation , Graduate Conference on Science and Technology of the Arts, Catholic University of Porto, Portugal.
Invited artist talk Gaming, Neuroaesthetics, Emotions, Gender Equity and Interactive Media, Spaces of Wildness, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany.
Annual Group Exhibition, BBK – Galerie der Künstler*innen, Munich, Germany.
Becoming Worlds, NewArtCity online exhibition of the 2025 students' projects of Game Design & Development, creative director and organisor.
Connecting with our Inner Feelings <womb>, solo exhibition, maisunomaisum, Lisbon, Portugal.
Endless Emotional Threads, Triennial of Design, New Hand Lab, Covilhã, Portugal.
PAUL, BYOB, group show, Carpintarias, Lisbon, Portugal.
I Turn into Thirst, collaborative exhibition with Diana Carvalho, Cultivate, Lisbon, Portugal.
Open Studio Xabregas, 55 artistas – 25 studios – 5 buildings, Xabregas, Lisbon, Portugal.
touch-project, maisunomaisum, Lisbon, Portugal (forthcoming).
FREE, LOVE, group show, Exhibizone, Canada & online.
Annual Group Exhibition, BBK – Galerie der Künstler*innen, Munich, Germany.
Womb Feelings, Let us Hear HER VOICE, ISOLART Gallery, Florence, Italy.
Aquatic Emotions, Peer23, Mannheim, Germany.
Diving into Emotions, Café Leitstelle, Heidelberg, Germany (funded by City of Heidelberg).
Aquatic Emotions, Das neue deutsche Tanzcafé, Mannheim, Germany.
Ocean Deep, Altes Volksbad, Mannheim, Germany.
Social Emotions, Helm Stierlin Institute Conference, Heidelberg, Germany.
Nature Feelings, outdoor installation, solo exhibition, Cham, Germany.
Social Emotions, Paradoxon Gallery, Heidelberg & Metropolink Urban Art Festival, Mannheim.
Liquefação/Liquefaction vs Endurecimento/Rigidification, [e]motion Graduate Conference, Porto, Portugal.
PCUC Drawing Contest, KUNSTMATRIX (online), Antwerp & Moscow.
TRUTH, collective exhibition, University of Luxembourg.
Co-curation: Painting and Glass Art, City Hall of Viechtach, Germany.
FOMO = DOMY, collective exhibition, University of Luxembourg.
Cate27, Istanbul, Turkey – Artist Residency.
New Hand Lab, Covilhã, Portugal – Design Residency.
maisunomaisum, Lisbon, Portugal – Interdisciplinary Artistic Residency.
Córtex Frontal, Arraiolos, Portugal – Artist Residency.
Terra Alta, Colares, Portugal – Permaculture Residency.
30-Hour Yoga Nidra Teacher Training (Yoga Alliance), Bodsphere.
300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (Yoga Alliance), Bodsphere.
International Summer University, GSOM St. Petersburg – transport, logistics & supply chain.
Social Competence Certificate, WU Vienna – communication, conflict management & body language.