Better Factory proudly participated in the renowned Ars Electronica Festival, held from September 4-8, 2024, in Linz, Austria. This year’s event was the largest and most successful edition to date, attracting more than 112,000 visitors. Over the course of five days, 1,260 artists, scientists, developers, entrepreneurs, and activists from 67 countries contributed to an impressive lineup of 498 events across 18 venues. The vibrant atmosphere, first-class programming, and beautiful weather made it a perfect setting for Better Factory’s final global showcase before the project concluded its four-year journey.
Ars Electronica: A Prestigious Stage for Better Factory’s Vision
Ars Electronica has long been a prestigious event that brings together artists, technologists, researchers, and activists to explore the intersection of art, technology, and society. The 2024 edition, themed “HOPE – Who Will Turn the Tide,” provided Better Factory with an excellent opportunity to highlight its achievements.
Positioned within the S+T+ARTS exhibition space in Linz’s historic postal distribution center, Better Factory showcased the results of its innovative collaborations through physical prototypes, videos, and documentation, offering attendees an in-depth look at the project’s achievements.
SMART ENVELOPE, REFINE, SHOES IN CIRCLE: A Showcase of Creativity and Innovation
A central feature of the exhibition was the presentation of the Better Factory Knowledge Transfer Experiments (KTEs), including the SMART ENVELOPE project. Artist David Rickard presented a short film showcasing the product as well as a longer artistic exploration titled “Fluid Borders.” This demonstrated the powerful synergy between art and technology that has been a key driver of Better Factory’s success.
Furthermore, the REFINE team showcased their scuba diving fun prototypes created with artist Javier Masa at the exhibition area, presented sequentially with each version or stage of the fin’s design with a description of its evolution and sustainability-focused technology, culminating in the final success story (images above).
Another standout was the SHOES IN CIRCLE team, who presented their documentary video highlighting the work of artist Anka Walicka. The video showcased her role in creating sustainable “knitted” shoes, underscoring the blend of artistic creativity and eco-friendly manufacturing practices. Visitors were particularly inspired by this innovative approach to sustainable fashion, which highlighted how art can shape the future of environmentally conscious manufacturing. The documentary can be viewed via the link below:
A Proud Culmination of Four Years of Innovation
Ars Electronica 2024 was an especially significant event for Better Factory, marking the final international conference it attended before the project’s conclusion. The team expressed pride in the tangible results achieved over the past four years, including cutting-edge manufacturing solutions and the many success stories born from collaborations between SMEs, artists, and technology providers.
With physical prototypes on display and stories of impactful partnerships, Better Factory’s presence at the festival was a fitting culmination of its journey. The project’s legacy, marked by innovative solutions that bridged art and technology, will continue to inspire and influence the future of manufacturing in Europe for years to come.
