CHI 2008 focuses on the balance between art and science, design and research, practical motivation and the process that leads the way to innovative excellence. It is about balance in our rapidly evolving field, the balance between individuals and groups, collocated and remote, stationary and mobile, in both our local and global communities. CHI 2008 was held in Florence, Italy, birthplace of the Renaissance, and home to great artists and scientists. This is the city of Leonardo Da Vinci, who spoke of balance in saying “where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art.”