Karl von Randow

Join us for a spicy session on cultural homogenisation and living in a world where everything is special, so nothing is. When it comes to good taste, has the digital world flattened the curve? We have the entire back catalogue of music from every corner of the world available to us, and we still rely on an algorithm to tell us what to listen to. We can walk into a cosmetic clinic and have a new face quicker than you can say “give me the Kendall Jenner”. We have owner-operated restaurants from all walks of life creating delicious, original dishes, but we give our money to large hospitality groups. Even Pantone’s colour of the year this year is Mocha Mousse: not-quite-beige, not-quite-brown, not quite anything, really. The question is, do we need better tastemakers, or is taste and originality a thing of the past?

Ever miss the days when the internet felt like a wild frontier of fan-made magic, weird little websites, and pure creativity? Sacha Judd does too. In this spirited talk, she traces the internet’s roots in fan culture, from the scrappy communities that wrote epic fanfiction and built personal sites in the ’90s, to today’s social media giants who seem more interested in selling your data than sharing your joy. By exploring the heart and soul of fandom, Sacha shows us how we can escape the algorithmic doom loops and reclaim our digital lives. She’ll champion small, personal, independent spaces where your online presence is truly yours. From building your own site to discovering (and creating!) small games, art, fanfiction, memes and fun little passion projects, her message is simple: embrace the DIY ethic that once made the web a home for boundless curiosity and creativity. If you’re fed up with corporate walled gardens and hungry for a more authentic online experience, join Sacha’s journey to bring back the “good internet” - a place fueled by genuine community, creativity, and connection.