A nostalgic, interactive installation built to bring retro internet culture to life at Digifest 2026.
Kerve partnered with Jisc to design and develop a fully interactive retro Facebook experience; purpose-built to run on an original G3 iMac as part of the Digifest 2026 exhibition space.
What the client wanted
At their flagship learning and teaching event Digifest 2026, Jisc invited delegates on an interactive journey through technological and cultural shifts from 1993 to the future to spark conversations about disruption, change, and education.
To complement the nostalgic feel of the past area of the stand, which featured classic games consoles and vintage technology, Jisc approached Kerve to create an interactive installation inspired by one of the earliest versions of Facebook. The experience needed to feel authentic to the era while still supporting live interaction from attendees throughout the event.
Most importantly, the solution had to run directly on an original G3 iMac, allowing visitors to approach the machine, interact with the interface, and create their own posts within the experience itself.
What we did
Kerve sourced and tested the original iMac hardware in-house to ensure the experience could be developed against the real-world constraints of the device and operating system from day one.
From there, we designed and developed a single-page retro Facebook-inspired interface that balanced authenticity with subtle visual adjustments to align with Jisc’s wider event branding. The installation was built to run locally without requiring an internet connection, ensuring reliability and stability throughout the live exhibition environment.
Working with legacy hardware introduced a number of technical challenges – from browser compatibility and performance limitations through to interface responsiveness and local data handling. Every aspect of the experience was carefully optimised to ensure visitors could seamlessly interact with the platform, create posts, and engage with the installation exactly as intended.
The final result captured the nostalgic charm of early social media while creating a genuinely interactive centrepiece for the Jisc hub.
What the response was like
The installation proved to be a huge success across Digifest 2026, drawing attendees into the stand through a combination of curiosity, interaction, and nostalgia.
Visitors engaged heavily with the experience throughout the event, with the retro iMac and familiar interface generating constant conversation and memorable reactions across the show floor. For Jisc, the installation became an effective way to spark engagement around the wider themes of the exhibition while reinforcing the retro identity of the space itself.
The project showcased how thoughtful experiential design and technical creativity can turn even the most familiar digital experiences into something unexpected and memorable.
