Folkwang AI Week 2026

13–17 April 2026

“AI,” “machine learning,” “deep neural networks,” or “large language models” are terms that are currently ubiquitous—in the media, on social networks, and increasingly in the hallways of universities. Yet they often remain vague. As buzzwords, they obscure more than they help us understand how these technologies actually work, what assumptions underlie them, and how we want to position ourselves in relation to them.

The AI Week is conceived as an open forum for a pluralistic engagement with machine learning, algorithmic systems, and artificial intelligence. Through lectures, workshops, and discussions, it aims to bring together diverse perspectives from design, art, technology, and theory. The goal is to develop a well-grounded understanding of these technologies—their mechanisms, their limitations, and the actual scope they offer for creative practice.

A central concern of AI Week is to provide orientation. Not in the sense of quick answers or technological promises of salvation, but through critical contextualization and collective reflection on what these systems make possible—and what they do not. A deeper understanding is intended to help students, faculty, staff, and administration engage with current and future developments in a reflective and informed way.

From this perspective, AI Week raises fundamental questions: How do we, as a university of the arts—and particularly within the field of design—wish to position ourselves in relation to AI? How do we want to use and disclose AI? What new professional fields and practices are emerging? And what futures of design are taking shape under the conditions of algorithmic systems?

AI Week will take place 13–17 April 2026 at the Department of Design, Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen. In addition to members of the university, alumni are also warmly invited to participate. We also reserve a limited number of spots for external visitors. If you are interested, please contact the following email address: intermedialegestaltung@folkwang-uni.de.

Admission is free.

The program and workshop registration are available on the following website:
gestaltung.folkwang-uni.de/events/ki-woche.

Workshop registration opens on 30 March 2026. Further information about the talks and workshops will be shared regularly on Instagram: @aiweek.folkwang

For announcements, updates, and possible program changes during AI Week, please join our dedicated event space on the Element messenger: https://matrix.to/#/#ki-woche-am-fachbereich-gestaltung:matrix.org