Maura Mengoni is an Associate Professor at the Polytechnic University of Marche (Italy), where she teaches Virtual Prototyping (Mechanical Engineering) and User Experience (Information Engineering for Video Games and Virtual Reality). She leads the Virtual Prototyping research group and directs the Virtual Reality Laboratory. She serves the international scientific community through editorial and program committees of journals and conferences. Her research focuses on User-Centred Design and UX methods, emotional design, emerging paradigms of Human&Machine Interaction, and advanced AI tools for human factors, Generative Design, and Extended Reality (XR) across industrial contexts. Her current work explores affective computing and AI for symbiotic, user-centric interfaces, and XR systems for cultural heritage, automotive and education. Laura Cormio is a Ph.D. student in Learning Sciences and Digital Technologies (Polytechnic University of Marche and University of Foggia, Italy).

Trained as an architect (Polytechnic University of Bari), she investigates how architectural and learning environments affect people&s experience, wellbeing, and performance, including the role of AI in the design process. She completed a research stay at Hasselt University and has published and presented her work in international venues. Tommaso Santilli is a Ph.D. student in Didactics and Special Pedagogy (University of Macerata, Italy). His research addresses inclusive educational technologies-especially XR-based supports-together with inclusive design and co-design approaches aimed at improving quality of life for people with specific learning disorders or disabilities, including inclusive participation in cultural and leisure contexts. He has contributed to national and international projects and disseminated results through publications and conferences.