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Chris Chowen

Creative Technologist & PhD Researcher

Profile

Creative technologist and PhD researcher exploring how non-technical people can use AI to build real software. My research at the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in AI for Digital Media Inclusion focuses on vibe-coding as a creative design medium. I've built over 50 projects through conversational AI development and spent seven years managing innovation hubs and emerging technology projects spanning VR, AR, and AI. I deliver workshops and training on AI-assisted development for non-programmers, and consult on creative technology projects.

Education

Royal Holloway & University of Surrey

2024 – Present
PhD — UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in AI for Digital Media Inclusion

Thesis: Vibe-Coding as a Creative Design Medium: Human-AI Co-Creation for Non-Technical Creatives. Researching how non-technical practitioners experience AI-assisted development, designing intervention tools for safer and more reflective practice.

University of Kent

2014 – 2017
BSc Multimedia Technology and Design — First Class Honours

Brighton College

2009 – 2014
A-Level & GCSE: Computing, Physics, Maths, Design & Technology

Experience

Wired Sussex

2021 – 2024
Innovation and Technology Manager
  • Managed The FuseBox, Brighton's innovation hub for creative and digital businesses
  • Led the Alternative Stages project: a WebVR live music platform using LIDAR-scanned Brighton venues
  • Ran emerging technology workshops for creative businesses across Sussex, covering VR, AR, and AI
  • Provided strategic technology consulting to member organisations on adopting new tools and platforms
  • Coordinated cross-sector collaborations including the Crisis UK "Impossible to Ignore" campaign and Holding Time public art project

Wired Sussex

2019 – 2021
Emerging Technologies Coordinator
  • Coordinated VR, AR, and AI projects, including facilitating resident companies such as VRCraftworks
  • Delivered tech education programmes and demo days for the regional creative digital network
  • Sourced and evaluated immersive technology solutions for partner organisations

Wired Sussex

2018 – 2019
Emerging Technologies Assistant
  • Supported emerging technology initiatives and event production
  • Created digital content including videography, livestreaming, and multimedia production

Speaking & Teaching

ASC Conference — The Kia Oval, London

Nov 2025
Conference Talk — The Future of Creative AI and Vibecoding: From Fast Prototypes to Responsible Practice

Talk on creative AI and vibe-coding for the Association for Survey Computing's "Beyond the Hype" programme on real-world GenAI applications.

XReative Tech Meetup — Barclays Eagle Labs, Brighton

Jun 2025
Meetup Talk — Human-Centred AI

Talk on how generative AI can ethically empower grassroots creatives through accessible, open-source tools.

Royal Holloway, University of London

May 2023
Guest Workshop — Cinematic Synthesis: Generative AI in Creative Storytelling

Half-day hands-on workshop for multimedia students using generative AI tools to produce short movie trailers in four hours.

Wired Sussex / The FuseBox — Emerging Technology Discovery Day

Feb 2023
Workshop Lead

Full-day workshop covering AI, 3D scanning, and VR/AR with demonstrations, explanations, and hands-on activities for creative businesses.

The Track — Bognor Regis

Apr 2022
Meetup Talk — Emerging Technologies

Presentation covering AI tracking systems, 360-degree video for mental health, and the Alternative Stages WebVR platform.

AI Coding Workshops

Ongoing
Freelance Workshop Facilitator

Delivering 30-minute talks, 2-hour workshops, and half-day intensive sessions on AI-assisted coding for non-programmers. Focused on vibe-coding, prototyping, and understanding the risks and limitations of AI-generated code.

Selected Projects

50+ Vibe-Coded Projects

2023 – 2025

Built a portfolio of over fifty AI-assisted projects spanning laughter detection games, fantasy sports engines, educational AI chatbots, full-stack platforms, AR business cards, and research tools.

ClaudeCreative — Research Plugin

2025

A Claude Code plugin implementing seven design interventions from PhD research, promoting safer and more reflective AI-assisted development practice.

Try Not To Laugh — Laughter Detection Game

2024

Seven iterations of a real-time laughter detection game using CNN classifiers, survival modelling, Elo ratings, and adaptive difficulty. Built with PyTorch, Vue.js, and WebSockets.

Crisis: Impossible to Ignore — AI Face Blender

2022

Generated a synthetic composite face from 17 participants using AI tools and created an Unreal Engine 5 MetaHuman as a blueprint for a 4.3m sculpture in Crisis UK's national homelessness campaign by adam&eveDDB.

Alternative Stages — WebVR Gig Platform

2022 – 2023

A WebVR live music platform featuring LIDAR-scanned Brighton venues, enabling virtual gig experiences with real-time audience interaction.

FuseBox Office Space — VR Template

2021

Reusable VR office environment template created using Mozilla Hubs Spoke editor, later cited in academic research on VR training usability in LIS education.

AR Business Card

2024

WebAR experience triggered by a physical business card, featuring a 3D avatar and real-time conversational AI powered by Google Gemini and ElevenLabs voice synthesis.

Skills

Research & AI
AI-Assisted Development Vibe-Coding Research Human-AI Co-Creation PyTorch Machine Learning Prompt Engineering
Development
Python JavaScript C# HTML / CSS React Node.js Full-Stack Web
Creative Tech
VR / AR Development WebXR / A-Frame Unity LIDAR Scanning Multimedia Production Livestreaming
Professional
Tech Education Workshop Facilitation Public Speaking Project Management Innovation Hub Management