A.M. Darke

A.M. Darke is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, affiliated with the Department of Performance, Play & Design and the Arts Division. They lead groundbreaking work in diversity in games and digital representation, particularly focusing on authentic animation of Black coily hair. Darke’s research bridges artistic design and computational science, collaborating with Yale computer scientist Theodore Kim to develop algorithms that capture the unique mechanical and visual properties of afro-textured hair, including switchbacks and end separation phenomena.

Their work, presented at SIGGRAPH Asia 2024, utilizes the Open Source Afro Hair Library to ensure cultural respect in simulations. Darke’s interdisciplinary approach integrates performance, playable media, and digital humanities, positioning them as a key figure in critical race and ethnic studies within technological contexts. Affiliations include Digital Arts and New Media and Art & Design: Games + Playable Media.