Dec 09, 2025

The Cost of Creativity

Chris Lange

About this video

Description

What happens when the tools we rely on for creative work stop working for us—and start working against us? In an age of subscriptions and gated ecosystems, creative workers are paying a kind of “rent” just to make. This session uncovers the hidden costs of digital dependency: what’s gained, what’s lost, and how these structures shape creative agency.
Through an introduction to The Anti-Subscription Catalogue, Chris offers practical strategies for loosening tech monopolies’ grip, reducing reliance on proprietary tools, and empowering students, educators, and practitioners to reclaim control of their creative practices. Attendees will explore ways to integrate open resources and collaborative approaches into classrooms and studios, build cross-disciplinary bridges, and advocate for digital sovereignty in design education and beyond.

Chris Lange