(Heather) Hyerin Im



Selected Research1. Cultural Tacit Knowledge
2. AI Creativity
3. Remote Togetherness
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Unspoken into the Spoken: Visualizing Cultural Nuances in Intercultural Romantic Dyads through Generative AI






What remains unspoken between people who love each other? Intercultural couples often share the same language, yet still struggle to express emotions shaped by different cultural norms, values, and expectations. Some experiences are simply difficult to explain—not because people lack the words, but because the feelings themselves are deeply contextual and tacit (Polanyi, 1966; Hall, 1976). 

This project began with that question. Through interviews and participatory design workshops with intercultural couples (Sanders & Stappers, 2008), we explored how generative AI could serve not as a tool for image generation, but as a medium for externalizing emotions that are otherwise difficult to articulate. 

The resulting AI-generated artworks allowed couples to visualize subtle emotional experiences and reinterpret their relationships from new perspectives. Rather than treating AI as a creative agent, this work investigates how AI can become a reflective interface (Sengers et al., 2005)—helping people see, discuss, and make sense of what often remains unspoken.






2025

Hyerin Im, Sungho Kim, Seungho Baek, Sunok Lee (Sogang Univ.)
[Under review - Minor revision]


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