Elisa Mekler

Elisa Mekler is an Associate Professor at the IT University of Copenhagen, affiliated with the Play, Culture, and AI department. Her research focuses on the motivational and emotional aspects of User Experience (UX) in games and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), aiming to bridge theoretical knowledge and practical applications. She leads the ERC-funded project 'Theorycraft' (2022–2027), exploring theory translation methods for game design. Her work spans over 27 publications and 16 awards, including multiple Best Paper accolades at CHI and CHI PLAY conferences.

Education and Affiliations: While formal education details are not explicitly listed, her academic trajectory is evident through her research output and leadership roles. She has supervised at least one doctoral student and collaborates internationally on projects like 'RAGE: Rethinking Affective Game Epistemologies.'

Research Interests: Mekler investigates player experience, game design frameworks, emotional engagement, and the role of psychological theories in interactive systems. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates autoethnography, design frameworks, and cross-cultural studies (e.g., thermal-affective interaction based on Chinese poetry).

Grants and Projects: Active projects include 'Theorycraft' (European Commission-funded) focusing on research-practice gaps, and 'RAGE' exploring affective game epistemologies. Past projects include studies on fitness games (ExerCube) and gamification elements.

Awards: Honorable Mentions at CHI (2020, 2021), Best Paper awards (2018–2020), and the prestigious ERC Starting Grant. Her work has been highlighted in 9 news outlets and referenced by 4 Bluesky users.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Play, Culture, and AI research group at ITU, collaborating with institutions globally. Her team emphasizes empirical methods and design-driven research in games and interactive systems.