ALEC KOZICKI · THE ACADEMIC RECORD

Academic Foundation

This page consolidates the academic dimension of the work, thesis, publications, teaching, and presentations, as a flat record for academic and institutional readers. Several items also appear as designed-project entries elsewhere in the portfolio; the project entries are the case studies, this page is the record.

Education

Degrees

2021–2025 · PhD in Semiotics and Culture Studies, University of Tartu (Department of Semiotics, Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics). Dissertation: The De-sign Process of Inhabiting Techno-Living Spaces. Supervisor: Prof. Kalevi Kull. Opponent: Prof. Em. Farouk Y. Seif, Antioch University Seattle. Defended 16 March 2026.
2019–2021 · M.A. in Semiotics, University of Tartu.
2017–2019 · B.A. in Communication Studies, Coastal Carolina University.

ORCID: 0000-0002-3747-7537

Research topics

Areas

Biosemiotics · Technology · Artistic texts · Design thinking

Publications

Peer-reviewed work

2025

Kozicki, Alec. Earthships as a de-sign process to harmonize with the environment. Semiotica 267: 135–161. DOI: 10.1515/sem-2024-0191
Kozicki, Alec. Storytelling through symbolism: Ouroboros as cyclical structure of cinematic text. In: Urueña López, J.; Tomaselli, D. (eds.), Remodelling Narrative Spaces: Semiotic Insights. Bogotá: Editorial Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, 209–225.
Fadeev, A.; Kozicki, A.; Tomson, K. Observing inner speech in the meaning-making through visual artistic texts. In: Ojala, J.; Bauters, M.; Díaz-Kommonen, L. (eds.), Feeling, Skill and Knowledge: Semiotics of the Subject in Environment, Culture and World. Cham: Springer Nature, 215–230.
Kozicki, Alec (2025 [2023]). Umwelt in an umwelt: Co-developing within immersive virtual environments and the paradoxical nature of reality and hyperreality (Wang, Daiyan, trans.). In: Peng, J.; Olteanu, A.; Urueña López, J. (eds.), Semiotics of Industrial Art: Between Technology, Politics and Senses. Bogotá: Editorial Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, 177–203. [Chinese-language edition]

2024

Kozicki, Alec. Emergent imputative symbols: In one word. In: Tragel, E. (ed.), Explorations in Dynamic Semiosis. Cham: Springer Nature, 375–392.

2023

Kozicki, Alec. Umwelt in an umwelt: Co-developing within immersive virtual environments and the paradoxical nature of reality and hyperreality. Sign Systems Studies 51(1): 73–100. DOI: 10.12697/SSS.2023.51.1.03
Kozicki, Alec. Affordance and Ton: The meaning-carriers of semiosis. In: Kõvamees, E.; Miyamoto, O.; Randviir, A. (eds.), Concepts for Semiotics II. Tartu Semiotics Library 24. Tartu: University of Tartu Press, 149–165.

2021

Kozicki, Alec. A semiotic model for smart home affordances: Trajecting semiotic components in a technological living environment. In: Suárez-Puerta, B.; Merkoulova, I. (eds.), Reflections on Paths, Scenarios and Semiotic Methodology Routes. IASS-AIS, 204–226.

Teaching

University courses & lectures

2024 · University of Tartu, Department of Semiotics. Lecturer for the course “Design Thinking and Applied Semiotics.”
2024 · University of Tartu, Department of Finance. Guest lecturer on “Entrepreneurial Opportunity: How to Model ‘Meaning’” within the course Modern Financial Management.
2023 · Tallinn University, Department of Linguistics. Guest lecturer on “The Role of Semiotics in Inner Speech Studies.”

Conference presentations · academic

Talks in the discipline

2024 · Trajective design and mesosemiotics: Transforming rubbish into realty. 16th World Congress of the IASS-AIS, Signs and Realities, Warsaw.
2024 · Interoperability as a key affordance to live with nature. International Semiotics Institute, Semiotic Resonance Summer Retreat, Olomouc.
2023 · Why the world needs semiotic consulting. Tartu Semiotics Summer School, Tartu.
2023 · Umwelt in an umwelt and the co-development within an immersive virtual environment. Semiosis in Communication, Bucharest.
2023 · Observing inner speech in the meaning-making through artistic texts (with Aleksander Fadeev). 13th Conference of NASS, Feeling, Skill, Knowledge, Helsinki.
2023 · Break the Algorithm: How a card game can de-sign meaning in a living space. 13th Conference of NASS, Helsinki.
2023 · Umwelt in an umwelt: Utilizing semiotic components for the co-development of an inhabitant and their techno-living space. Contemporary Umwelt Analysis, Tartu.
2022 · The degrees of nature for immersive virtual environments and the intentionality of semiotic components. 46th Annual Conference of the Semiotic Society of America, online.
2022 · The paradox of virtual and realistic nature. 15th World Congress of the IASS-AIS, Semiotics in the Lifeworld, Thessaloniki.
2021 · A semiotic model for smart home affordance. X International Congress of Semiotics of Colombia ASC Colloquium, online.

Industry & cross-sector presentations

Talks for applied audiences

2025 · A Commutation of LUST (a bilingual product name). Semiofest 2025, international festival of applied semiotics.
2023 · Semiotic consulting and the development of future societies. Ülemiste City Future Forum, Tallinn.
2023 · AI and the (human) Semiosphere. Technosemiotics, online.

Workshops & invited talks

Invited

2022 (summer) · Guest presenter at a Technosemiotics workshop on the relevance of semiotics for AI. Details to be confirmed.

Alec Kozicki · Academic Foundation · University of Tartu · Semiozic OÜ