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In the newest episode of The Art of Digitalisation, host Johanna-Kadri Kuusk explores an often-overlooked side of digital societies: how we preserve human connection when more and more of our lives move online. She speaks with Nesli Hazal Oktay Associate Professor of Interaction Design at the Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA), about her research on remote intimacy and why designing digital services should not only be about speed and efficiency, but also about empathy, presence, and meaningful human interaction.
Drawing on her own experience of living far from her family, Oktay explains how relationships are built through small, everyday rituals rather than constant connectivity. The conversation explores why friction and slowness can sometimes strengthen relationships, how digital tools often remove opportunities for spontaneous human encounters, and why future digital services should be designed around people’s emotional needs rather than purely operational efficiency.
The episode also looks at Estonia’s digital society through a human-centred lens, discussing where digitalisation works exceptionally well and where we may need to preserve opportunities for face-to-face interaction deliberately.
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to learn:
- Why meaningful human connection often requires effort, time, and intentional “friction”.
- How shared activities can create stronger bonds than traditional video calls.
- Why digital services should balance efficiency with empathy.
- What Estonia gains from digitalisation and what risks come with reducing everyday human interactions.
- Why designers should play a bigger role in shaping public services and policymaking.
To stay updated on how Estonia’s digital society is evolving beyond technology and towards more human-centred solutions, follow The Art of Digitalisation on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and watch for upcoming episodes.
