This was REFRESH 2026 in San Francisco
REFRESH 2026 was a partnership between the Department of Design and the Immersive Arts Space of the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) and Swissnex in San Francisco. The festival took place from 4–7 March at Swissnex in San Francisco, while the exhibition continued until 12 April 2026.
This 7th edition of REFRESH focused on «Algorithmic Entanglements», reflecting the impact of digital technologies on society and the planetary well-being in keynotes, masterclasses and in an exhibition with internationally acclaimed artists and designers. It discussed the complex interplay between current technological developments, society, and ecology. How can we act responsibly and inclusively under the given circumstances? How can the arts and design contribute to this question? The line up highlighted the crucial role of creative practitioners and thinkers engaging critically and responsibly with digital transformation.
A huge thank you to all who contributed and participated! We hope to stay in touch.
For more information on the programme and on upcoming editions, please visit refresh.zhdk.ch.
REFRESH is an initiative of the Department of Design and the Immersive Arts Space of the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK).
