Art and Science Shaping the Future of Care
Forever Lab is a research and innovation lab operating at the interface of art, science, and technology. We unite artists and health scientists as equal collaborators to investigate life’s thresholds and design new systems of care shaped by that inquiry.
What We Do — Designing for Thresholds
The human journey is full of threshold moments – where people confront illness, loss, caregiving, or other major change.
These challenges demand not only technical solutions, but also insight into how humans endure change and reconstruct meaning. Artists hold sophisticated knowledge in these domains. Forever Lab harnesses that artistic intelligence within health research, design, and systems-building.
We unite professional artists and health scientists as equal collaborators to design responses that deepen the emotional and existential dimensions of care. Together, we shape research questions, create new tools and technologies, and reimagine what care can be.
Our Domains
Loss
This domain explores the ways loss shows up across the human journey. The most obvious example is death. But this category also encompasses experiences like miscarriage or failed IVF (lost future), break up (lost relationship), or primary care provider leaving (loss of continuous care).
Supportive AI
This domain explores how artificial intelligence can strengthen, rather than replace, human connection. Working at the intersection of art, science, and design, we integrate emotional, relational, and existential insight into the development of AI-enabled tools. Our goal is to ensure emerging technologies support deeper human-to-human understanding and care.
Caregiving
This domain examines how people care for one another across the lifespan. We take a broad view of caregiving—from early experiences of friendship and love that develop our capacity to care, to the responsibilities of supporting aging parents, partners, and communities. Our work explores how care relationships evolve and how systems can better support those who give and receive care.
Strengthening Interdisciplinary Methods
This domain advances new models for collaboration and knowledge creation across disciplines. We study how artists, scientists, technologists, and community partners can work together effectively, develop stronger approaches to measuring outcomes in interdisciplinary work, and expand the science of teaming in complex systems.
Featured Initiatives
ATLAS is a Forever Lab initiative advancing arts-embedded caregiving innovation across the human lifespan. From youth friendship to end of life, ATLAS investigates how artistic intelligence can support caregiving journeys, and translates those insights into tools and interventions for real world systems.
upLIFT is an initiative embedding performing artists alongside patients and caregivers in the development of AI technology for serious illness care. We aim to improve quality and communication in serious illness care teams, while modeling the role of artists as valued upstream collaborators in AI development.
Featured Publications
Thank you to the following individuals and organizations for their support of our mission.
If you are interested in making a directed gift to Forever Lab please contact us.