Digital systems are shaping public life, accelerating the need for community participation and intervention. MakeShift 2026 is an invitation for designers, technologists, researchers, and advocates to reimagine how we design and govern these systems so they are more legible, accountable, and trustworthy in shared and public spaces. MakeShift 2026 will take place on May 20 and 21, 2026, at 136 W 21st Street, New York City. This event is hosted by Helpful Places, Superbloom Design, and MFA Interaction Design (ixD) at the School of Visual Arts, with support from the U.S. National Science Foundation POSE program.