It’s clear that the events of the last year have profoundly affected the way people now meet, exchange information and share knowledge. Yet in the realm of design, where disruption is a constant reality, we have seen several major design forums flourish in the face of great challenge.
In the spirit of change, innovation and community, here are five popular design conferences that have pivoted their itineraries to the online realm this year. Each event is guaranteed to draw a diverse audience of the world’s brightest, boldest and most future-facing thinkers and to provoke powerful and necessary conversations around design, innovation and the new world.
Interaction 21
January 31-February 5: Online
For its 14th annual installment this hugely popular design conference will be making its first-ever move to the online space. The ticket promises deeply thought-provoking conversations about the perils in our world today, what led us to them and inspiring solutions to inspire change moving forward. Speakers will delve into the themes of anger, accountability and action during a highly accessible and around-the-clock itinerary.
Leading Design Festival Conference
March 2-4: Online
This three-day online conference will cover all the essentials of what makes a great leader great and allow attendees to be inspired and engaged from the comfort of their own home. Masterclasses, mentoring sessions and a host of other events will follow this conference in a full month of programming intended for anyone leading design teams, overseeing design direction, or interested in instilling a culture of design within their organizations.
IPQC: Design Thinking Virtual Experience 2021
April 13, 14: Online
IPQC’s online design thinking conference will gather an array of practitioners, in and outside of the design function, who have identified design thinking as a useful problem-solving tool. Over two immersive and inspirational days, this year’s program will feature a series of illuminating keynotes, engaging discussions and collaborative workshops focusing on design thinking as both a function and a strategy.
Global Design Forum
September 18-26: London, UK, Online
This annual thought leadership programme which celebrates design and the minds shaping the future was held online in 2020 and will likely take place in the online space once again this year. Attendees can expect a unique mix of talks, debates, tours and workshops that together reflected the most innovative thinking in the world of design today. Speakers from all corners of the global design community will share new perspectives on designing for a shifting future — focusing on topics such as designing in a post-pandemic world and the power of AI and our environment. Prepared to be inspired!
Design Matters
September 29, 30: Copenhagen, DK, Online
While hosted in Copenhagen, organizers of this annual and in-demand design conference are also offering a special livestream conference program ticket for its 2021 event. Global and virtual attendees will view have live access to the main conference program and will also receive a mailed copy of New York Times Bestseller This Book is Anti-Racist to complement this year’s learnings. Design Matters is a global community of digital creatives who love to explore and inspire each other to break new ground in digital design.
