2026 Insider pass open for DLS25 attendees
§ THE ROOM
250+ LEADERS · DLS 2025 STAGE
2
FOCUSED DAYS
250+
DESIGN LEADERS
16+
SESSIONS
12+
ROUNDTABLES
16+
SPEAKERS
§ 01
THE SHIFT
The work is bigger than the interface.
For a decade we optimized the surface. Now the leverage is underneath it — in the teams, workflows, intelligence, and judgment that decide what gets made, and whether people trust it.
Design leadership is no longer the surface. It's the orchestration layer.
The interface
L01 · SURFACE
Intelligent products
L02
Workflows & systems
L03
People, trust & judgment
L04E
THE SYSTEM YOU ACTUALLY LEAD
§ 02
FIVE PILLARS · ONE SYSTEM
One interconnected operating model.
Not five tracks — five forces every senior design leader is now accountable for.
P/01
Human Leadership
Leading people, not just process — care, clarity, and change management at scale.
P/02
Workflows & Systems
The operating model — how work moves, where decisions live, what scales.
P/03
Intelligent Products
Designing with AI as material — useful, legible, and worthy of trust.
P/04
Craft &
Judgment
What stays human when production accelerates — taste, standards, the call.
P/05
Strategy &
Impact
Earning the mandate — connecting design to outcomes the business counts.
§ 03
HOW IT WORKS
Not just another conference.
Two focused days balanced between big-stage perspective, small-group depth, and time to think. Each format does one job in the system.
F/01
PERSPECTIVE
Theatre Talks & Panels
Candid main-stage playbooks with live Q&A — org design, metrics, AI, research at speed, systems at scale.
F/02
SENSEMAKING
Curated Roundtables
8–12 peers, facilitated, under Chatham House Rule. Bring real problems; leave with next-week experiments.
F/03
PRACTICE
Workshops
Hands-on, skill-up sessions to pressure-test methods on your own work and walk out with something usable.
F/03
TRUST
Socials & Off-Record
Late-night hangs, debates, micro-meetups. No agendas — just trust and good conversation. People > pixels.
§ 04
WHO IT'S FOR
Built for senior design leaders.
Whether you're a Staff Designer, Design Manager, or Director of Product Design — content, connections, and conversations that match your level and your pace.
WITH THE INCREDIBLE SUPPORT OF OUR PARTNERS
§ 05
THE VOICES
Voices from the DLS stage.
16+ SPEAKERS · FULL 2026 LINEUP ANNOUNCED ROLLING THROUGH THE YEAR
FEATURED KEYNOTE · P/01 HUMAN LEADERSHIP
Design Leadership Demystified
Design leadership is far more than managing creative teams — it's about effectively managing change. Drawing on years across companies and dozens of interviews with design leaders, Peter shares the strategies, skills, and mindset to lead with impact and keep your sanity.
Peter Merholz
Consultant & Author
§ 06
ROUNDTABLE PROMPTS · OFF-RECORD
The questions we'll actually sit with.
8–12 peers per table, under Chatham House Rule. These are the live wires of design leadership right now.
Not five tracks — five forces every senior design leader is now accountable for.
R/01
What does craft mean when production accelerates?
R/02
How is AI changing your design operating model?
R/03
What parts of the process should never be automated?
R/02
How do we design intelligent products people trust?
R/05
What should design leaders own in AI governance?
R/06
How are teams changing hiring, leveling & expectations?
§ 07
43.6464°N 79.3902°W
TIFF Bell Lightbox
TORONTO, ON · ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT
DLS returns to the iconic cultural hub in Toronto's entertainment district. Known for its inspiring architecture and state-of-the-art facilities, TIFF is the right room for main-stage programming and the moments in between.
SUPER EARLY BIRD · LIMITED
Two days with senior design leaders, in the room, shaping the systems behind the work. Nov 17–19, 2026 · Toronto.
§ 08
THE ROOM SPEAKS
What fellow design leaders are saying.
“DLS 2025 felt less like a conference and more like a room full of sharp minds pushing each other to think deeper.”
Umar Rehman
Head of Design
“I leave Toronto refreshed and encouraged. The kindness and generosity of this community are unparalleled.”
Ryan Rumsey
Founder, Second Wave Dive
“A space for 250+ design leaders that was about human connection — more like a gathering of like-minded friends than a conference.”
Natasha Green
Design Manager
§ 09
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
When and where is the Summit?
Who usually attends?
Are virtual or hybrid options available?
Do you offer group tickets?
Are sessions recorded?
Visas / invitation letters?
Have more questions? Drop us an email at support@designx.community