New Otis College Research to Examine A.I.’s Influence on the Creative Economy

Otis College of Art and Design announces that on April 7 it will release the latest findings of its Otis College Report on the Creative Economy at an event at Snap Inc. headquarters in Santa Monica, California.

Now in its 19th year, the Otis College Report on the Creative Economy is a vital resource exploring the economic impact of creative industries in Los Angeles and California. The program is centered around an interactive digital dashboard and complemented by timely research examining creative industries and emerging trends. The Report is developed in partnership with Westwood Economics and Planning Associates.

The new 2026 Report will provide vital context for understanding how artificial intelligence (A.I.) is transforming creative industries and offer insights into the future of creative work, innovation, and economic growth. It will examine the growing influence of A.I. across key sectors of the creative economy, including new media, gaming, animation, and related fields. The launch event will feature an engaging fireside chat on A.I. and Los Angeles’s Creative Future with the co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc., Evan Spiegel, and renowned artist and co-founder of Refik Anadol Studio and Dataland, Refik Anadol.

Spiegel is the co-founder of Snap Inc. and has served as the CEO and a member of its board of directors since May 2012. He holds a B.S. in Engineering/Product Design from Stanford University and has also served on the board of directors of KKR & Co., Inc. since October 2021.

Anadol is an internationally renowned media artist, the director and co-founder of Refik Anadol Studio in Los Angeles, and an instructor at UCLA’s Department of Design Media Arts (from which he obtained a MFA). He is also the co-founder of Dataland, the world’s first Museum of A.I. Arts, opening this year in L.A. Refik Anadol Studio brings together a globally diverse team of designers, architects, data scientists, and researchers who share a deep commitment to inclusion, equity, and cross-cultural collaboration at every stage of artistic production. 

The Otis College Report on the Creative Economy launch event, report, and dashboard are made possible thanks to generous funding from Presenting Supporter Snap Foundation and supporters, including:

California Community Foundation; City National Bank; Councilwoman Traci Park; The Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles; Gallagher; Getty; Marsh; Moss Adams; The Music Man Foundation; The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation; The Snap Foundation; Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath.

Register for the April 7 launch event of the Spring 2026 Otis College Report on the Creative Economy.

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