As technology evolves from a mere tool into a partner in shaping everyday life, how can design address the evolving relationship between people, technology, culture, and the future?

On October 22, a study tour for the Beijing–Linz Joint Hackathon: City of the Future was held in Beijing. Participants and faculty representatives visited the "Spiritual Land: Future World of Inspiration" (灵境・未来灵感世界) Immersive Light and Art Exhibition at the BOE Yiyun Digital Art Center (艺云数字艺术中心). They experienced firsthand how digital technologies are transforming artistic expression and explored the creative potential of the convergence of technology and art. The event was supported by the International Centre for Creativity and Sustainable Development under the auspices of UNESCO (ICCSD).

Group photo of event participants

The Beijing–Linz Joint Hackathon: City of the Future is a key project of the 2026 Design Marathon, focusing on three international themes: future cities, cultural twins, and digital entertainment. The program invited interdisciplinary student teams specializing in design and technology from universities in China and abroad. Over an intensive 48-hour co-creation session, the teams developed digital creative works, including animations, interactive art, and game maps, exploring new possibilities for AI-enabled future lifestyles.

Co-Creation Across Beijing and Linz

Founded in 1979, Austria's Ars Electronica Festival in Linz is one of the world's oldest and largest festivals dedicated to technology, media art, and digital culture. This year's hackathon brought Beijing and Linz together through cross-city collaboration. Ding Zhaocheng, initiator of the Design Marathon and a professor at Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, said the event aims to break down barriers between educational institutions and ensure that all students willing to participate have equal access to high-quality academic resources.

Speaking about the theme of "cultural twins", Ding noted that digital technologies can transform cultural resources, such as traditional clothing, into digital exhibitions, overcoming the limitations of physical objects and offering audiences new experiences. He encouraged young creators to devote themselves to traditional culture and arts and crafts, while valuing authentic interactions between people and between people and objects.

A Hackathon participant explores the exhibition

Zhang Jinquan, a hackathon participant, said the event's focus on urban civilization and culture was forward-looking and closely aligned with contemporary trends. As cross-cultural exchanges become increasingly frequent, young learners can use cities as a starting point to explore the distinctive characteristics of different civilizations and translate their findings into visual and audiovisual design works. He described the experience as a valuable opportunity for learning and self-expression.

A Digital Art Experiment in Time

If the 48-hour hackathon was an intensive intellectual sprint toward the future, the study tour offered participants an opportunity to step away from their screens and engage directly with interactive art. Using time as its narrative thread, the exhibition spans approximately 2,200 square meters and features three immersive spaces that blend virtual and physical experiences: "Portal Through Time and Space" (时空任意门), "Space of Spiritual Attraction" (灵引力空间), and "Future Evolution Ground" (未来进化场). Together, they connect 16 immersive and interactive exhibits.

Exhibition venue

From Prehistoric Rock Art, where touching a torch activates ancient rock paintings, to Birds in Flight, where an Eastern crane carries pine and cypress branches beyond the frame; from Myriad States of Mind, which makes emotions visible, audible, and tangible, to Transcendent Body, which invites visitors to explore a cyberpunk version of Beijing through virtual reality (VR) headsets, the exhibition traces a journey from the distant past to the future. This narrative resonates with the hackathon's themes of future cities, cultural twins, and digital entertainment.

Interactive installation at the exhibition

Faculty members and students participating in the hackathon responded positively to the exhibition. They observed that technology and AI can bring previously static, non-interactive content to life. Whether through the integration of Chinese and Western cultural elements or the digital reinterpretation of traditional motifs, such as clothing patterns, these approaches make cultural experiences more vivid and accessible. Several students noted that digital expression enabled them to gain a closer understanding of the language of technology-driven design. The experience also offered practical inspiration for communicating creative ideas and translating design concepts into tangible outcomes in their future work.

From 48 hours of intensive co-creation to an immersive exploration of the city, the hackathon workshop not only promoted broader access to academic resources but also conveyed an important message to young creators: technology can push the boundaries of imagination, but innovation must remain rooted in culture and real life.