Recap: see-Conference #17

On April 26, 2025, the 17th edition of the see-Conference took place at the Schlachthof in Wiesbaden. After the opening remarks, the event began with a powerful keynote by award-winning political journalist and author Gilda Sahebi, who explored the state of democracy and its role in shaping our future.

The see-Conference brings together what naturally belongs together: design, art, and architecture—but also voices from business, journalism, sociology, philosophy, and technology. It’s a gathering of people who want to imagine and build a better world.

The talk by Barbara Buser fit seamlessly into this framework, highlighting how sustainable construction can be achieved by working with what already exists – building from leftovers, reusing materials, and rethinking how we inhabit our built environment.

The conference’s interdisciplinary curation offered fresh perspectives on how our actions today affect the generations of tomorrow—and why it’s time we start doing, not just thinking. In a striking example, director and activist Stefan Kaegi demonstrated what happens when the World Economic Forum in Davos is staged inside a theater, forcing audiences to reflect on global power structures in an entirely new way.

Of course, visual storytelling played a major role as well. Graphic designer Marta Cerdà Alimbau, creative director Liza Enebeis, photographer and AI-artist Boris Eldagsen, and animator Raman Djafari offered insights into their creative practices, and revealed the emotional and narrative layers behind their work.

Particularly impressive were the contributions of Swantje Güntzel, whose artistic practice has been addressing the radical transformation of our natural landscapes for over 20 years. Her work confronts the psychological consequences of climate change, plastic in the oceans, species extinction, and the human footprint on the environment.

The conference was rounded off by an interactive exhibition of student projects on data visualization, physical computing, and sustainability—and between talks, there was plenty of time for discussion and exchange, accompanied by delicious street food.

The 17th see-Conference was not only a thoughtfully curated and inspiring gathering, but a powerful reminder of the urgency and potential of creative action—in the Rhein-Main region and beyond!

Photos: © see conference, Julia Kahl