With an inspiring mix of talks, hands-on workshops, interactive installations, and boundary-pushing performances, the festival brings together creatives, researchers, designers, technologists, educators, policymakers, and citizens. It’s a collective space to explore the fusion of digital and physical worlds, spark new ideas, and co-create visions of a more inclusive, sustainable, and human-centred future.
Theme 2025: Shaping Hybrid Realities
Due to digitalisation, our lifeworld is becoming increasingly hybrid. The world as it appears to us – how we see it, understand it, and navigate it – is a blend of digital media technologies and physical environments. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and immersive experiences (IX) are set to deepen this fusion in the coming years.
This shift to hybrid realities has far-reaching implications for our everyday lives and our democratic society. How does this impact our shared sense of reality, mental well-being, relationships, and the way we shape and experience public space?
Organised by the Centre of Expertise Creative Innovation (CoE CI) – a collaboration between the Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam University of the Arts, Inholland University of Applied Sciences, and the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences – the festival is structured around four thematic tracks that guide participants through the complex landscape of Society 5.0.
Join us and be part of shaping tomorrow’s society today.
Sense
Technology often prioritises cognition and the visual, but what about our other senses? This track explores how sensing can reconnect us to our bodies, others, and the physical world, offering an antidote to the rush of efficiency-driven systems.
Reclaim
Reclaim whose world? Our world! This track explores how we can reclaim hybrid spaces through creative placemaking, civic-minded infrastructures, and new ways to express, debate, and belong.
Access
In a hybrid world, access to technology means access to life. This track delves into infrastructural justice, asking how to shape inclusive hybrid realities and empower people with the skills to thrive in them.
Generate
As creative beings, we constantly shape hybrid realities. This track explores human and non-human generative practices as ways to imagine and build a future society.
Highlights
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OTHERWORLDS
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The Forgotten Promise of Machine Creativity
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Dream Archive: Live Collection
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How democracy can survive AI
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Metahaven
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Reimagining AI: Abundant, Playful, and Just
Schedule
Schedule
Wednesday 15 October
14:30-15:00
Registration
Have your ticket ready, collect your badge, and enjoy a coffee
15:00-16:15
Plenary session
Words of welcome, visual keynote & performance
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Words of welcome by Esther Hammelburg
Opening • Auditorium -
The Forgotten Promise of Machine Creativity
Performance • Auditorium -
Metahaven
Keynote • Auditorium
16:15-16:45
Break
Enjoy a tea or coffee and explore the installations and bookstand in the courtyard
16:45-18:10
Plenary session
Keynotes and Q&A
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Is it Possible to Live an Inquisitive Life?
Keynote • Auditorium -
How democracy can survive AI
Keynote • Auditiorium -
Reflections by Frank Kresin
Categorie • Auditorium
18:10-19:15
Drinks
Wrap up the day with drinks and good company and a drink
All day
Installations
The courtyard comes to life: all-day installations to explore
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Dark Tech in Progress: Student Showcase
Installation • Courtyard -
WE ARE… you and me
Installation • Courtyard -
Echo – Reimagining how we curate, preserve and share Digital Legacies
Installation • Courtyard -
Beneath the Surface: A speculation on our future relationship with domestic technology
Installation • Courtyard -
Society’s Pulse – How Anger Shapes Our Heartbeat
Installation • Courtyard -
OTHERWORLDS
Immersive installation • Meeting room 5 -
Verisimilitude in VR: Building the Blocks of Believability
Installation • Courtyard
All day
VPRO Hackathon
Six student teams solve a pressing media challenge
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The Agents of Reality Hackathon: I spy with my little eye
VPRO Hackaton • Playroom
Thursday 16 October
09:00 – 09:45
Registration
Have your ticket ready, collect your badge, and enjoy a coffee
09:45 – 11:00
Plenary session
Performance & keynote
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Roman & Eliza – Theatre VR Experimentation
Performance • Auditorium -
Shadowboxing the Grid
Keynote • Auditorium
11:00 – 11:15
Short break
Enjoy a tea or coffee and explore the installations and bookstand in the courtyard
11:15 – 12:30
Workshop round 1
Dive into the first round of workshops
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The emergence of the virtual human in the age of GenAI
Panel discussion • Auditorium -
Next Generation Internet
Workshop • Meeting Room 1 -
Dream Archive: Live Collection
Participatory performance • Meeting Room 2 -
Design for collectivity in human-AI collaborations, applying civic protocol economies
Workshop • Meeting Room 3+4 -
How artists use (immersive) technology to bring culture alive
Panel • Meeting Room 5 -
Learn from Nature: Develop More-Than-Human Perspectives
Workshop • Playroom
12:30 – 13:30
Lunch
Enjoy a fully vegetarian lunch
13:30-14:45
Workshop round 2
Join the second round of workshops
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Reimagining AI: Abundant, Playful, and Just
Workshop • Auditorium -
Verisimilitude in VR: Building the Blocks of Believability
Workshop • Meeting Room 1 -
AI companions: an end to one’s loneliness or a lonely illusion?
Fishbowl discussion • Meeting Room 2 -
Designing a Media Future Scenario
Workshop • Meeting Room 3&4 -
Designing Dark Tech: A Speculative Prototyping Workshop
Workshop • Playroom -
Humans-in-the-Loop: real-time collective interactions between crowds and AI-systems
Workshop • Parool Theatre
14:45-15:00
Short break
Enjoy a tea or coffee and explore the installations and bookstand in the courtyard
15:00-16:15
Workshop round 3
Wrap up the afternoon with a final set of workshops
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Take a stand: Co-creating an ethical compass for GenAI
Workshop • Auditorium -
Reimagining connection in the digital public space
Workshop • Meeting Room 1 -
Public Space in Hybrid Realities
Discussion • Meeting Room 2 -
Beyond prompts: A practical workshop in creating AI-agents
Workshop • Meeting Room 3+4 -
OTHERWORLDS
Immersive installation • Meeting room 5 -
Designing for Collectivity
Workshop • Playroom -
VPRO Hackathon presentations + jury session
Presentation + jury session • Parool Theater
16:15-16:45
Break
Take a longer break to connect with others or explore the installations
16:45-18:00
Final plenary session
The day in a nutshell: hackathon results, festival wrap up, and a final performance to remember
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TalkDance – elastic thoughts and deep moves
Performance • The Social Hub
18:00-21:00
Closing party
Wrap up the festival with drinks, music and good company
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DJ Lena Rigel
Party • The Social Hub Restaurant Bar
All day
Installations
The courtyard comes to life: all-day installations to explore
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Echo – Reimagining how we curate, preserve and share Digital Legacies
Installation • Courtyard -
Dark Tech in Progress: Student Showcase
Installation • Courtyard -
WE ARE… you and me
Installation • Courtyard -
OTHERWORLDS
Immersive installation • Meeting room 5 -
ReFaN: Reshaping the fashion Narrative mode
Installation • Courtyard -
Beneath the Surface: A speculation on our future relationship with domestic technology
Installation • Courtyard -
Society’s Pulse – How Anger Shapes Our Heartbeat
Installation • Courtyard -
Wisdom Tile Wall
Installation • Courtyard -
Inclusive Online
• Courtyard -
Verisimilitude in VR: Building the Blocks of Believability
Installation • Courtyard
All day
VPRO Hackathon
VPRO Medialab hosts a hackathon in which students solve a pressing media challenge
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The Agents of Reality Hackathon: I spy with my little eye
VPRO Hackaton • Playroom
Speakers
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Julia Janssen
Moderator of Society 5.0 2025
Julia Janssen
Moderator of Society 5.0 2025
About the speaker
Julia Janssen makes the challenges of our digitalizing society tangible in art. Her performative and interactive installations explore how to deal with fairness, autonomy, freedom and democracy in a data-driven world. Julia Janssen is an artist, researcher, public speaker and ambassador of the Dutch Data Protection Foundation, representing class action lawsuits against X, Adobe and Amazon for illegal data collection practices and mass surveillance. She is also the host of Data Morgana a talkshow about the future of the Internet. Janssen creates movement on digital rights, data protection and human autonomy throughout. She was named one of the visionaries: Rise25 by Mozilla and winner of the art and science breakthrough of the year award.
Julia Janssen
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Jamie Bartlett
Author and broadcaster
Jamie Bartlett
Author and broadcaster
About the speaker
Jamie Bartlett is a best-selling author and one of the leading commentators on technology’s impact on society. He is the author of four books, including The People Vs Tech (2018), winner of the Transmission Prize, and The Dark Net (2014), exploring internet subcultures. His most recent book, The Missing Cryptoqueen (2022), grew out of his hit BBC podcast about one of the world’s largest crypto scams, downloaded millions of times and topping charts worldwide.
Jamie Bartlett
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Agnes Callard
Associate Professor in Philosophy at the University of Chicago
Agnes Callard
Associate Professor in Philosophy at the University of Chicago
About the speaker
Agnes Callard is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Chicago, and author of Aspiration: The Agency of Becoming (OUP, 2018) and Open Socrates: The Case for a Philosophical Life. Her work focuses on Ancient Philosophy and Ethics, and she writes widely for The New York Times, The New Yorker, Harper’s, The Atlantic, Boston Review, and The Wall Street Journal. She also runs a regular evening philosophy discussion (Night Owls).
Agnes Callard
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LinkedIn Mail
Esther Hammelburg
Festival director Society 5.0
Esther Hammelburg
Festival director Society 5.0
About the speaker
Esther is a media scholar and senior lecturer in the Communication and Creative Business programmes at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. In her work, she enjoys combining her specialist expertise with broader societal issues, fostering meaningful dialogue around these themes.
Society is changing as people’s living environments become increasingly hybrid: physical spaces and (digital) media technologies are becoming ever more intertwined. This affects how people perceive, understand, and experience the world. Within this context, Esther focuses on topics such as media literacy and misinformation, immersive technologies, hybrid live experiences, death tech, and civic social media. In addition to her role at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Esther serves on the Supervisory Board of Media Campus NL and is active in Post-X Society.Esther Hammelburg
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Metahaven
Artist collective
Metahaven
Artist collective
About the speaker
Metahaven are an Amsterdam-based artist collective whose work comprises filmmaking, design, and writing. Metahaven’s film works include “The Feeling Sonnets (Transitional Object)” (2024), “Chaos Theory” (2021), “Hometown” (2018), “Information Skies” (2016, nominated for the European Film Awards), and “The Sprawl (Propaganda About Propaganda)” (2015). As designers, Metahaven have worked with Balenciaga; Tselinny Center of Contemporary Culture, Almaty; Tensta konsthall, Stockholm; Valiz, Amsterdam; Sternberg Press, London, and many others. They have done activist design for Independent Diplomat (2014) and WikiLeaks (2010) and have made design proposals for Sea Shepherd (2016). Metahaven have presented solo exhibitions at MoMA PS1, New York; Guggenheim Museum Bilbao; ICA London; Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam; Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco; Asakusa, Tokyo; Izolyatsia, Kyiv; e-flux, New York, and State of Concept Athens, among others. They have participated in group exhibitions at Artists Space, New York; the Gwangju Biennale; the Sharjah Biennial; Ghost:2561, Bangkok, and many others. Their films have been screened at IFFR, Docs Against Gravity, CPH:DOX, and the Museum of Modern Art, New York, among others. Their work is in several international museum and private collections, including the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Sharjah Art Foundation, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, the V&A, and the National Gallery of Victoria. Metahaven are artistic advisors at Rijksakademie, affiliate researchers at Antikythera, and heads of department at the Geo-Design MA at DAE.
Metahaven
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Georgina Voss
Artist, writer, and design researcher
Georgina Voss
Artist, writer, and design researcher
About the speaker
Georgina Voss is an artist, writer, and design researcher whose work explores the presence and politics of large-scale technologies and heavy industry through performance, multimedia installation, visual practice, and writing. She is the author of ‘Systems Ultra: Making Sense of Technology in a Complex World’ (Verso 2024), and has shown work at institutions such as Tate Modern, transmediale, TAC Eindhoven, and the V&A London.
Her writing has appeared in The Guardian, Harvard Design Magazine, The Atlantic, and many more. Georgina co-founded Strange Telemetry and Supra Systems Studio (UAL), and is Visiting Professor at UCL, Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Studies, and resident at Somerset House, London.
Georgina Voss
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Luna Maurer
Mixed media designer
Luna Maurer
Mixed media designer
About the speaker
A mixed-media designer and artist who blends digital technologies with physicality to explore human characteristics. She co-founded Moniker, known for participatory and web-based experiences, and co-authored the influential manifestos Conditional Design and the recent Designing Friction. She is a Golden Calf winner (Dutch Oscar) for the Best Digital Culture production with her performance Emoticons Don’t Have Wrinkles. Currently, she is investigating how algorithms can be used to push us out of our comfort zones and help us experience our human qualities.
Luna Maurer
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Claire Downes
Co-founder and CEO of Virtual Decisions
Claire Downes
Co-founder and CEO of Virtual Decisions
About the speaker
Claire Downes is the co-founder and CEO of Virtual Decisions. With over 30 years of experience in innovative and creative practices, she is passionate about fostering positive change through collaboration with diverse communities.
With a background in the film and television industry includes mentoring young actors, directing a feature film, and writing for networks such as BBC, ITV, SKY, Amazon, and Apple TV+. She is committed to harnessing tech and VR solutions to change perceptions, save lives, and create a meaningful impact across the world.
Claire Downes
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Jimmy Bates
Development Coordinator
Jimmy Bates
Development Coordinator
About the speaker
Jimmy Bates has over 15 years of experience in facilitating transformative educational experiences. He is always looking for innovative ways to enhance learning experiences, and his expertise spans across creative workshop delivery, training, and production.
Jimmy Bates
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Geetanjali Khanna
Product Experience Designer
Geetanjali Khanna
Product Experience Designer
About the speaker
Geetanjali Khanna is a product experience designer based in Amsterdam, specialising in UI/UX and interaction design. She transforms complexity into seamless interactions through systems thinking, visual storytelling, and a keen eye for detail. With roots in India and a background in architecture and textile design, she brings a multidisciplinary perspective that balances structure with sensitivity. Geetanjali holds a Master’s in Digital Design from the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA), where she explored human-centered, ethical, and future-conscious approaches to technology. Her work is driven by empathy and curiosity, focusing on how design can spark joy and foster digital futures rooted in meaning and connection.
Geetanjali Khanna
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Hans Teerds
Research professor
Hans Teerds
Research professor
About the speaker
Hans Teerds is a research professor at the Academy of Architecture of the University of the Arts, where he leads the research group Climate, Space, and Politics, exploring how spatial design can contribute to social and political resilience in the face of climate change. He also works as a business developer at Benthem Crouwel Architects. With a background in Urban Design and Architecture from TU Delft, he earned his PhD there on the political dimension of architecture through the lens of Hannah Arendt.
Hans Teerds
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Jacco Gardner
Composer/Producer
Jacco Gardner
Composer/Producer
About the speaker
Jacco Gardner is a performer, composer, and artist-researcher investigating human-machine collaboration in creative contexts. His artistic practice spans from internationally acclaimed psychedelic pop and synth albums (Cabinet of Curiosities, Hypnophobia, Somnium) to media archaeological research preserving endangered creative paradigms.
Jacco Gardner
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Naomi Bueno de Mesquita
Research professor
Naomi Bueno de Mesquita
Research professor
About the speaker
Naomi Bueno de Mesquita is a research professor working at the intersection of art, design, cartography, and philosophy with a focus on the societal impact of emerging technologies. She lectures in Social Justice and Diversity in the Arts at the Amsterdam University of the Arts (Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten) and in Design & Social Innovation at Design Academy Eindhoven. Her work centers on how art and design can drive social equity and inclusion in the face of technological change.
Naomi Bueno de Mesquita
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Mark van der Gun
Lecturer Data, Technology and Ethics
Mark van der Gun
Lecturer Data, Technology and Ethics
About the speaker
Mark van der Gun is a philosopher and lecturer at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. He teaches Smart Media Production, guiding students in using AI and smart tech with a strong focus on ethics. Mark sees opportunities in AI but also warns of risks like oppression and inequality, urging critical thinking: “Do I really need AI here, or am I better off doing this myself?”
Mark van der Gun
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Iskander Smit
Independent researcher, designer, curator
Iskander Smit
Independent researcher, designer, curator
About the speaker
Iskander Smit is an independent researcher, designer, and curator, diving deep into human-AI-things relationships. At the Civic Interaction Design research group of HvA, he explores as visiting researcher a new research program on Civic Protocol Economies. He is the founder and chair of the Cities of Things Foundation, an independent knowledge platform rooted in TU Delft. Iskander explores the relationship between human and machine intelligence. He also publishes a newsletter Target is New, and is a curator and board member of ThingsCon.
Iskander Smit
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Joao Loupatty
Lecturer Data, Technology and Ethics
Joao Loupatty
Lecturer Data, Technology and Ethics
About the speaker
Joao Loupatty is a multidisciplinary artist and educator at the University of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam, where he teaches in the Smart Media Production program. His work explores the intersections of technology, identity, and colonial history. With experience in chatbot development since 2018, he brings both technical insight and critical reflection.
Joao Loupatty
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Tessa- Mei Duzee
Lecturer, Researcher in Digital Media
Tessa- Mei Duzee
Lecturer, Researcher in Digital Media
About the speaker
Tessa Duzee is a lecturer and researcher in digital media and ethics at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. She focuses on AI literacy, future thinking, and responsible innovation, and is currently developing an online course on generative AI for professionals in the creative sector.
Tessa- Mei Duzee
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Jolijn Friederichs
Critical Maker, Artistic researcher, Educator
Jolijn Friederichs
Critical Maker, Artistic researcher, Educator
About the speaker
Jolijn Friederichs is a critical maker, (artistic) researcher and educator at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS). With a background in Fashion Design (BSc) and Digital Design (MSc), she investigates how Value Sensitive Design can be integrated into technological making. Her current research focuses on responsible innovation in the context of hyper-personalisation in fashion. As lead of the Dark Tech Studio at HBO-ICT, she explores how provocative prototyping can help students understand ethical boundaries and take responsibility within the realities of tech opportunism.
Jolijn Friederichs
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Marise van Noordenne
Creative technologist, Researcher, Educator
Marise van Noordenne
Creative technologist, Researcher, Educator
About the speaker
Marise van Noordenne is a creative technologist / researcher / educator at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS). Her academic background combines Creative Technology (BSc) and Media Technology (MSc) with studies in Artificial Intelligence. She is currently leading the Dark Tech Studio at the HBO-ICT program, conducting research in the application of provocative design methods for AI literacy, and investigating Human-AI co-creation in generative music at the Responsible IT research group.
Marise van Noordenne
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Pauline Hoogweg
Designer, Lecturer, Researcher
Pauline Hoogweg
Designer, Lecturer, Researcher
About the speaker
Pauline Hoogweg writes, designs and works as a designer-researcher at the research group Creative Media for Social Change (Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences) and as a lecturer at the Communication & Multimedia Design Program. She studied at the Royal Academy of Art The Hague, at the St Joost School of Art & Design Breda and at the University of California Berkeley. She is the author of 22 + 9 (poetry book), Moed je doen! (a survival guide for doing your dream project) and De wereld maakt een koprol (a picture book). In her work, she focuses on creating space for people to explore, connect, and imagine. She loves to work on projects that spark energy and bring people together.
Pauline Hoogweg
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Julia Willms
Video and performance artist
Julia Willms
Video and performance artist
About the speaker
Julia Willms (DE/NL) is an Amsterdam-based artist working with video installations, performance, and media art. Her work explores perception and the viewer’s role within space. She studied in Maastricht and Vienna, and her work has been shown internationally at venues like De Appel, Centre Pompidou Metz, and Reina Sofia. She also teaches and mentors in various art programs.
Julia Willms
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Billy Mullaney
Performance artist
Billy Mullaney
Performance artist
About the speaker
Billy Mullaney is a performance maker exploring non-theatrical forms like lectures, tarot readings, and trailers to examine how they shape spectatorship and meaning. With a background in theater and choreography, he subverts these formats to reveal their inner logic and political implications. A DAS Theatre graduate, he is an associate artist at TILT, as well as a lecturer, math instructor, and actor.
Billy Mullaney
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Andrea Božić
Choreographer, Artist, Researcher
Andrea Božić
Choreographer, Artist, Researcher
About the speaker
Andrea Božić (HR/NL) is a choreographer, artist, and researcher based in Amsterdam. Her interdisciplinary work spans performance and installations, often engaging with the moon and night sky to explore perception, spectatorship, and authorship. She studied literature in Zagreb and choreography in Amsterdam, and teaches at DAS Theatre and internationally. Her work has been shown at venues like Frascati, Oerol, and Centre Pompidou Metz.
Andrea Božić
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Elena Mihai
Visual Designer
Elena Mihai
Visual Designer
About the speaker
Elena Mihai is a visual Designer with a background in UX/UI, blending creativity and strategy to craft meaningful digital experiences. Originally from Romania and raised in Belgium, she’s now based in Amsterdam and holds a Master’s in Digital Design from the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA). Her work spans UI, UX, branding, graphic design, motion graphics, and illustration — creating bold visuals and thoughtful interactions that surprise and engage.
Elena Mihai
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Victor Sebastian Jaime Moncada
Product Designer
Victor Sebastian Jaime Moncada
Product Designer
About the speaker
Victor Sebastian Jaime Moncada is a product designer with a multidisciplinary background in fine arts, architecture, and graphic design. He focuses on developing design concepts that blend technology, real-world context, and storytelling. Originally from Mexico and now based in Amsterdam, Sebastian brings professional experience in UX/UI design, visual design, and creative direction.
Victor Sebastian Jaime Moncada
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Derk Wijkamp
Philosopher
Derk Wijkamp
Philosopher
About the speaker
Derk Wijkamp is a philosopher who graduated with a focus on Levinas’ ethics and has explored the ethical dimensions of healthcare organization. As part of ‘Filosofie in actie’, he now specializes in the ethical issues surrounding data use, digitalization, and modern technology. In this role, he advises, trains, and produces blogs and podcasts.
Derk Wijkamp
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Lilian de Jong
Futures researcher at the Netherlands Study Centre for Technology Trends
Lilian de Jong
Futures researcher at the Netherlands Study Centre for Technology Trends
About the speaker
Lilian de Jong is a futures researcher at the Netherlands Study Centre for Technology Trends (STT), where she leads a study on interaction in digital public spaces. Her work explores how algorithmic systems, platform infrastructures and public values shape the way we connect, communicate and coexist in a hybrid digital society.
With a background in linguistics and AI, Lilian brings together technological insight and social reflection. At STT, she develops scenario-based explorations that spark dialogue on desirable futures across sectors.
Lilian de Jong
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Katy Barnard
Design researcher
Katy Barnard
Design researcher
About the speaker
Katy is a design researcher at STBY in Amsterdam, originally from the west coast of the US. They are passionate about understanding people and helping to create a more sustainable, ethical, and empathetic world. Their work focuses on the (mental) health and environmental impacts of digital technologies, creating safe spaces for open conversation and exploration. Katy has collaborated with clients such as Spotify, Google, and the Netherlands Cancer Institute, among others.
Katy Barnard
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Paulien Kreutzer
Senior design researcher
Paulien Kreutzer
Senior design researcher
About the speaker
Paulien is a senior design researcher at STBY Amsterdam with an extensive background in qualitative research. She has worked with a wide range of clients, spanning healthcare, media, and culture. Paulien brings deep expertise in exploring personal and sensitive topics in a participatory and co-creative way, often collaborating with young audiences.
Paulien Kreutzer
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Bart van Son
Creative technologist
Bart van Son
Creative technologist
About the speaker
Bart van Son is a creative technologist at the Digital Society School, with a background in Media Technology. As a keen explorer of different technologies, he is often connecting different fields and ideas. Beyond the screen, Bart enjoys making physical installations that invite people to reflect on their own behavior.
Bart van Son
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Mari Fujiwara
Creative technologist
Mari Fujiwara
Creative technologist
About the speaker
Mari Fujiwara is a creative technologist at the Digital Society School, designing playful experiences that help people to rethink how we live with technology. With a background in new media and philosophy, she creates games, zines, and interactive rituals that tackle societal questions. Her work explores how humans, non-humans, and AI can work together to build better futures — always with a sense of curiosity and collaboration at the heart of her work.
Mari Fujiwara
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Max Tiel
Director Thunderboom
Max Tiel
Director Thunderboom
About the speaker
Max Tiel is co-founder of Thunderboom Records, a non-profit innovation lab for the music industry. Thunderboom Records is the driving force behind various cooperative responsible music-tech projects and their goal is to make sure that emerging tech adds positive value to the music industry. They collaborate with a wide variety of national and international partners.
Max Tiel
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Maartje Sol-van Beuningen
Innovation Coordinator
Maartje Sol-van Beuningen
Innovation Coordinator
About the speaker
Maartje Sol-van Beuningen is Innovation Coordinator at Dutch public broadcaster BNNVARA. Together with her team of innovation strategists, she explores the future of media — both from a technological and a societal perspective. In her nine years at the broadcaster, she has witnessed the media landscape change significantly. Alongside her work at BNNVARA, Maartje is also actively involved in the cultural sector in ’s-Hertogenbosch.
Maartje Sol-van Beuningen
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Joris Cornielje
Speaker, maker, strategist
Joris Cornielje
Speaker, maker, strategist
About the speaker
Joris Cornielje works at the Evangelische Omroep (EO) on strategy, digital and AI. He inspires people to conquer the fast-changing tech landscape with insights, creativity, and a dose of constructive provocation. Whether it’s synthetic empathy, prompt-powered design, or AI-native teams — Joris makes future-facing topics feel real, urgent, and surprisingly human.
Joris Cornielje
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John Meulemans
Digital Human specialist
John Meulemans
Digital Human specialist
About the speaker
John Meulemans is Digital Human specialist and partner at Hibou, PR and Influencer Agency. John excels in combining innovation and creativity. This has earned him and his previous agencies multiple awards that recognize his work not only for effectiveness (Effies) but for creativity (Lovies) as well.
John Meulemans
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Marleen Stikker
Founder and executive director of Waag Futurelab
Marleen Stikker
Founder and executive director of Waag Futurelab
About the speaker
Marleen Stikker is the founder and executive director of Waag Futurelab in Amsterdam. Waag Futurelab reinforces critical reflection on technology, develops technological and social design skills, and encourages social innovation. Marleen leads a trans-disciplinary team of designers, artists and scientists, applying Public Research and Key Enabling Methodologies to empower people to participate in the collective design of open, fair and inclusive futures.
Marleen Stikker
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Marit Hoefsloot
Concept developer
Marit Hoefsloot
Concept developer
About the speaker
Marit Hoefsloot is a concept developer at Waag Academy, where she works on the development and implementation of the Public Stack Academy. Through projects such as ACROSS, Mobifree and Responsible Business Models, Marit researches value-driven digital platforms and their underlying business models.
Marit Hoefsloot
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Eva Vesseur
Lab Lead Academy Waag Futurelab
Eva Vesseur
Lab Lead Academy Waag Futurelab
About the speaker
Eva Vesseur works at Waag Futurelab as lead of the Maker Education Lab. She has a strong vision of learning and education of the future. Within the Technological Citizenship project, she explores how critical making can contribute to social innovation. In the Critical ChangeLabs project, she searches for innovative forms to engage with young people on democracy.
Eva Vesseur
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Dr. Kasia Głowicka
Composer and researcher
Dr. Kasia Głowicka
Composer and researcher
About the speaker
Dr. Kasia Głowicka is a composer and researcher, affiliated with International Music Industry Research Group, at InHolland Hogeschool. Głowicka’s work bridges music composition and creative process with modern technology and explores how technology fosters empathy, imagination, and cross-cultural dialogue. Her work has been featured at among others Vrije Geluiden, De Munt Theater Brussels, Polish National Opera and many other festivals and venues across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Dr. Kasia Głowicka
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Susannah Montgomery
Business Development Manager
Susannah Montgomery
Business Development Manager
About the speaker
Susannah Montgomery is a Business Development Manager at the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Culture & Creativity, where she connects stakeholders to drive innovation in the culture and creative sectors. She specializes in translating complex societal challenges into interactive experiences. Recently, she has managed cultural game jams across Europe for the EPIC-WE project and co-created Fabricated – Unravel Fact from Fiction in Your Digital World, an award-winning exhibition.
Susannah Montgomery
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LinkedIn Mail
Frank Kresin
Decaan Faculteit Digitale Media en Creatieve Industrie
Frank Kresin
Decaan Faculteit Digitale Media en Creatieve Industrie
About the speaker
Frank Kresin is sinds 2019 decaan van de Faculteit Digitale Media en Creatieve Industrie aan de Hogeschool van Amsterdam. Eerder was hij managing director van het DesignLab van de Universiteit Twente en research director bij Waag Futurelab. Met een achtergrond in film en kunstmatige intelligentie werkte hij aan uiteenlopende onderzoeksprogramma’s op het snijvlak van technologie, maatschappij en ontwerp. Daarnaast zit hij in de besturen van ARIAS en de Center of Expertise Creative Innovation en Applied AI en in de Raad van Toezicht van Muziekschool Amsterdam en Tetem, Platform voor digitale cultuur in Enschede.
Frank Kresin
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Koos Zwaan
Professor of Innovation
Koos Zwaan
Professor of Innovation
About the speaker
Koos Zwaan is Professor of Innovation in the Music Industry at Inholland University of Applied Sciences Sciences. His work focuses on sustainable innovation within the music industry. Research themes are clustered around technological, creative, and social innovation, and include emerging technologies, new creative practices, ecological sustainability, inclusion and diversity, fair practice, music ecosystem development, and mental health.
Koos Zwaan
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Researchers-designers of Responsible IT
Researchers-designers of Responsible IT
About the speaker
Yuri Westplat. Standing from left to right: Nicky Heijmen, Bas Pijls, Arthur van Schravendijk, Rover Vos and Marise van Noordenne.
Researchers-designers of Responsible IT
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Lena Rigel
Dj
Lena Rigel
Dj
About the speaker
Lena Rigel is an Amsterdam-based music adventurer capturing the burning
sensuality of a world on the verge of collapse. Her sound exists on the edge of the
struggle between self-imposed limitations and endless curiosity, where raw essence
fuels the inner fire of rebellion and uncertainty dissolves into rhythm. Drawing from a
marketing background and inspired by underground Eastern European influences,
she creates multicolored energy exchanges that flow through distinct ‘character
arcs’. Which one will be next?
Lena Rigel
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Sophie Bloemen
Co-founder en director Commons Network
Sophie Bloemen
Co-founder en director Commons Network
About the speaker
Sophie is a political economist and co-founder and director of Commons Network. She works at the intersection of economic transition, post-growth, digital commons and the role of governments. As social advocate, policy expert and organiser, she has worked extensively on democratization of the economy and public-civic partnerships, developing ideas, proposals and projects for post-growth economies. Her work spans local to global levels, collaborating with international institutions, European policy makers, ministries, and municipalities.
Sophie Bloemen
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Yuri Westplat
docent-onderzoeker lectoraat Responsible IT
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Jarl Schulp
Artistic director and co-founder
Jarl Schulp
Artistic director and co-founder
About the speaker
Jarl Schulp is the co-founder and artistic director of FIBER. Alongside his work at FIBER, he is active as a curator and researcher exploring the intersections of audiovisual art, digital tools, sound, and complex technological, ecological, and cultural systems.
Jarl Schulp
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Vivian Opsteegh
CEO of Media Campus NL
Vivian Opsteegh
CEO of Media Campus NL
About the speaker
Vivian Opsteegh is CEO of Media Campus NL, the innovation and talent network at Media Park in Hilversum. Media Campus NL accelerates renewal in the Dutch media industry by strengthening human capital and driving innovation. Through its programs, it connects makers, educational and knowledge institutions, technology partners, and policymakers to foster co-creation and agility. Previously, Vivian held senior management roles in the media and creative industries, including at Media.Monks, Viacom, and Dentsu. She also serves on the Supervisory Board of the Netherlands Film Fund. Vivian believes in the power of stories to connect worlds, generations, and disciplines. Her work focuses on building bridges between technology, creativity, and societal impact.
Vivian Opsteegh
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Andrea Bijen
Documentary maker, audiovisual artist, and interviewer
Andrea Bijen
Documentary maker, audiovisual artist, and interviewer
About the speaker
Andrea Bijen is a documentary maker, audiovisual artist, and interviewer. She started her career in the media as a documentary maker and researcher, and since 2019 she has been teaching Film at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. She also works as a transformation leader at the Digital Society School, where she guides international teams researching topics such as synthetic media, AI, and journalism in repressive regimes, in collaboration with VPRO MediaLab and NPO Innovation. She is also a regular interviewer for the podcast platform Intalk. Andrea’s work is recognized for its experimental storytelling and its exploration of social taboos.
Andrea Bijen
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Barbara Devilee
Interdisciplinary media scientist, senior lecturer, and researcher
Barbara Devilee
Interdisciplinary media scientist, senior lecturer, and researcher
About the speaker
Barbara Devilee is an interdisciplinary media scientist, senior lecturer in the Communication and Creative Business bachelor program, and researcher at the Digital Life Research Group at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA). She explores the intersection of technology, creativity, and human experience, mapping the landscape of European creative AI innovation and advocating for ethical, inclusive, and emotionally intelligent design that empowers both creators and audiences. Her PhD project, ANIMA — AI-supported Narrative Immersion for Mental Health in Adolescents, investigates how AI-driven storytelling and immersive VR experiences can strengthen self-esteem and social connection among young people.
Barbara Devilee
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Melissa Jacobi
Student at AMFI
Melissa Jacobi
Student at AMFI
About the speaker
Melissa Jacobi – I am currently a design student at AMFI, where I focus on fashion through the lens of speculative design and the use of biomaterials. My work explores sustainability by imagining alternative futures and experimenting with innovative materials and concepts. I’m interested in how fashion can challenge norms and provoke thought, not just serve as something to wear. I strive to create work that is both meaningful and forward thinking. Recently, I’ve been expanding the vision further through this project developed during the Makers Lab minor.
Melissa Jacobi
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Aleksandra Wolska
Fashion design and textile technology student
Aleksandra Wolska
Fashion design and textile technology student
About the speaker
I am a fashion design and textile technology student at Hogeschool van Amsterdam where I explore the intersection of technology and art. In my making I try to blend my creative background, material experimentation and thought about daily convenience and comfort to create projects that are relatable, innovative and original: conceptual fashion works, digital clothing construction or, recently, an AI closet in this project.
Aleksandra Wolska
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Yonne Oskam
Student Biomedical Technology
Yonne Oskam
Student Biomedical Technology
About the speaker
Currently I study Biomedical Technology at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam. I am passionate about biology and all technical things. My main focus is on creating solutions to improve or fix the problems that our healthcare system is facing today. I have dived into cholesterol meters, heart monitors, and electronics/sensors integrated into the fabric of our clothes. When I am working on a project, I like to tinker, fail, explore, and figure it out until everything works! I really enjoy creating and aspire to be a creator who improves the world.
Yonne Oskam
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Luisa Malundo
Recent graduate Bachelor of Global Design
Luisa Malundo
Recent graduate Bachelor of Global Design
About the speaker
I am a recent graduate in the Bachelor of Global Design at IADE Creative University (Lisbon, Portugal), who aspires to become a UX designer. Passionate about new and emerging technology and design research, I focus on rethinking and solving everyday problems in creative and innovative ways. During my exchange semester in the Netherlands, I got the chance to participate in the minor Makers Lab at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, where I explored new mediums of research and design methodologies, opening my horizons on how design could be in the future.
Luisa Malundo
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Jordi Ditmar
Creative Technology background
Jordi Ditmar
Creative Technology background
About the speaker
Jordi Ditmar has a background in Creative Technology and enjoys working at the intersection of people and technology. In his work, he explores how technological innovations shape, question, and enrich everyday life. He connects design, research, and imagination to make complex themes accessible. Jordi thrives in interdisciplinary environments where art, science, and society converge. His projects invite both reflection and interaction.
Jordi Ditmar
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Raisa Grotenhuis
Lecturer in Biomedical Technology
Raisa Grotenhuis
Lecturer in Biomedical Technology
About the speaker
Raisa Grotenhuis has been a lecturer in Biomedical Technology since the start of the program, where she enthusiastically teaches the design and development of biomedical sensors. With her technical expertise, she aims to contribute to a healthier and more inclusive society. She encourages students to use technology for social impact — from improving lifestyles to creating accessible healthcare innovations. Raisa enjoys collaborating with partners beyond the university to bridge education and real-world practice.
Raisa Grotenhuis
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Bart Baselmans
Senior lecturer in Biomedical Technology
Bart Baselmans
Senior lecturer in Biomedical Technology
About the speaker
Bart Baselmans is a senior lecturer in Biomedical Technology at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, working at the intersection of technology, health, and society. He develops education and research in which technology is not the goal, but a means to strengthen health, equity, and social resilience. With an interdisciplinary vision, he brings together students, researchers, and professional partners to shape the healthcare of tomorrow. Bart fosters co-creation within local communities, ensuring that innovations are closely connected to people’s everyday lives.
Bart Baselmans
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Nadja van der Weide
Social theatre maker
Nadja van der Weide
Social theatre maker
About the speaker
Nadja van der Weide is a social theatre maker specialising in interactive and performative art exploring social issues & interpersonal dynamics. With an MA from the Sandberg Institute and a BA in Cultural Studies, she researches social conventions. Her Common Good series examines ownership, technology & participation. Nadja is currently pursuing a Professional Doctorate in social art practices with local communities at the Amsterdam University of Applied sciences.
Nadja van der Weide
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Timo Nieuwenhuis
Researcher Rathenau Institute
Timo Nieuwenhuis
Researcher Rathenau Institute
About the speaker
Timo Nieuwenhuis works as a researcher within the theme of digitalization at the Rathenau Institute. He is interested in how technology and culture are intertwined and how that affects our social and intimate lives. During his role, he works within the research project ‘Inclusive Online Environments’, the podcast ‘Verrekijkers’, and the dialogue program ‘Digital Future’.
Timo Nieuwenhuis
FAQ
Where is the festival and how do I get there?
The Social Hub Amsterdam City
Wibautstraat 129, 1091 GL Amsterdam
View on Google Maps
The venue is easily accessible by public transport (metro 4 min – train 8 min), bicycle or taxi.
The website said the registration was completed, but I have not received my ticket.
Please check your spam folder first as it may have ended up there. If you’re still having problems receiving your confirmation email with your ticket(s) please email us at society5@hva.nl. We will respond as soon as we can.
Do I need to register separately for each session or workshop?
All attendees must register for the festival itself in advance. However, separate registration for individual sessions or workshops is not required. Workshops are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that space is limited – once a workshop is full, no additional participants will be admitted.
Will food and drinks be available?
Yes. Complimentary coffee, tea, water, and a vegetarian lunch will be provided during the event. Additionally, food and drinks can be purchased at The Social Hub café on site.
Accessibility & inclusion
Everyone is welcome! Our venue is wheelchair accessible, with accessible toilets and seating throughout. Assistance dogs are welcome, and quiet zones are available. We currently do not provide sign language interpretation, but you’re welcome to bring your own whisper interpreter or support person.
Let us know if you need this or have other requirements. Questions? Contact us at society5@hva.nl.
Will sessions be recorded or live-streamed?
Although this year’s theme is Shaping Hybrid Realities, the festival itself is a fully in-person experience. Sessions will not be live-streamed or recorded.
How can I contribute to the festival?
Great to hear that you would like to contribute! Please email us your ideas at society5@hva.nl.
Have there been previous editions of the Society 5.0 Festival?
Yes. Society 5.0 has been organised in previous years, each edition exploring the intersection of technology, society, and innovation from a human-centred perspective. Every year brings new insights, diverse speakers, and hands-on workshops – continuing to grow as a platform for meaningful exchange and future-oriented thinking.
Read more about the previous editons.
About
At the Society 5.0 Festival, we explore new ways of working to shape a desirable future society. During this two-day festival – filled with workshops, performances, installations, and talks – creatives, researchers, citizens, technologists, educators, designers, students, and (policy)makers come together to access, generate, sense, and reclaim our hybrid future.
The Society 5.0 Festival is organised by the Centre of Expertise Creative Innovation (CoE CI), an impact network for the creative industry, in which the Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam University of the Arts, Inholland University of Applied Sciences, and the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences collaborate.
Meet the partners making this year’s festival possible: VPRO Medialab, The Social Hub, and EIT Culture & Creativity.
