Futures of Uncertainties

Date: 2.10—5.10.25
Institution: ZHDK
Location: Zurich, CH

Head of REFRESH: Prof. Dr. Chris Salter, Maike Thies
Curation: Maike Thies
Identity / Motion Design: Abhash Mittal
Scenography: Stephan Wespi
Technical Manager: Stefan Kraft
Communication & Public Relations: Maike Thies, Anna Tschopp
Special thanks to: Prof. Dr. Chris Salter, Corina Zuberbühler, Prof. Marijke Hogenboom, Prof. Hansuli Matter, Prof. Dr. Anna Lisa Martin-Niedecken, Ivana Kvesić

exhibition

REFRESH, running from October 2—5, 2025, deals with the intersection of Arts, Design & Technology. Under the theme «Futures of Uncertainties», the sixth edition of the festival – featuring keynotes, exhibitions, masterclasses, screenings and performances – will bring together designers, artists, and researchers from Switzerland and abroad to explore possible futures for design and the arts. REFRESH is primarily devoted to the topics «Algorithmic Entanglements», «Liminal Bodies», «Worldbuilding», «Immersive Journalism», and «Technobiological Futures / New Ecologies». These themes reflect the spirit of the times, questioning the role of creative practitioners in a hyper-connected, data-flotted world.

REFRESH is a collaboration between the Department of Design and the Immersive Arts Space of the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK).