Leadership Summit
Design Leadership 2026
A focused roundtables session for experienced leaders. Honest discussion, shared challenges, and space to connect with peers facing similar questions.
PresentationsHighly relevant presentations
Attendees dove into transformative presentations that challenged the status quo and ignited powerful discussions. These sessions weren't just about exploring ideas. They catalysed actionable solutions.
RoundtablesFocused, facilitated roundtables
Attendees engaged in deep, focused discussions with peers. They explored diverse perspectives and generated actionable ideas. These sessions offered a unique opportunity to co-create solutions and challenge the status quo.
NetworkingExtensive networking opportunities
We built meaningful connections over sustainable meals, drinks, and immersive experiences. The networking sessions fostered collaboration and left people feeling inspired.
What we'll explore
The Craft Dividend
When everyone can design, the average standard drops. The craft dividend is the return on investing in rigour: the compounding value from embedding critique, maintaining standards, and building systems that elevate quality rather than just velocity. This theme explores how design leaders make craft non-negotiable.
Pathways and progression
Too many designers have arrived at their current level through luck, finding the right mentor or landing at the right organisation. Without formal pathways, the profession leaves talent development to chance. As AI shifts what designers do, the skills that matter are changing, but we haven't rebuilt the ladders.
Design's bright future
As our discipline evolves and we move away from the same old tools, templates, and frameworks, design is rediscovering its identity. We'll finish the day looking optimistically to the future, discussing what excites us most about where design is heading and what we can't wait to get our hands on.
Andrew Hogan
Amanda Morkos
James Ratsasane
Sadia Mir
David Bacon
Milly Schmidt
Amir Ansari
Christian Newski
Jing Shen
Rosie Mills
Milly SchmidtAndrew HoganJames RatsasaneJing ShenChristian NewskiRosie MillsDavid BaconAmir AnsariSadia MirAmanda MorkosMilly SchmidtIncluded with every ticket:
Location
