Design Leadership Summit – Toronto’s Premier Design Leadership Event

NOVEMBER 18-19, 2025 | TORONTO, CANADA

Apply to Speak

Where design leaders exhale. Share a talk, interactive session, or roundtable that trades polish for truth.

Start Your Proposal

Choose a Format That's for You!

We’re inviting proposals for four session types. Pick the format that best suits your topic and delivery style.

Theatre Stage Talks & Panels

Step onto the main stage with a 20–30 minute talk or join a panel of peers. Share bold stories, big visions, and lessons that resonate with the full community.

Theatre Stage Talks & Panels

Step onto the main stage with a 20–30 minute talk or join a panel of peers. Share bold stories, big visions, and lessons that resonate with the full community.

Interactive Sessions

A 30–45 minute workshop-style session where participants actively engage. Designed to leave attendees with practical tools or frameworks they can apply.

Interactive Sessions

A 30–45 minute workshop-style session where participants actively engage. Designed to leave attendees with practical tools or frameworks they can apply.

Lightning Talks

A fast-paced 10–15 minute talk to spark ideas or share a sharp case study. Perfect for delivering focused insights that provoke discussion.

Lightning Talks

A fast-paced 10–15 minute talk to spark ideas or share a sharp case study. Perfect for delivering focused insights that provoke discussion.

Roundtable Facilitators

Guide a 45-minute candid discussion with peers around a specific challenge. You set the stage, then help surface insights from the group.

Roundtable Facilitators

Guide a 45-minute candid discussion with peers around a specific challenge. You set the stage, then help surface insights from the group.

Submit Your Proposal

Complete the form below to apply for a Talk, Workshop, or Panel at Design Leadership Summit 2026. Our team will review submissions on a rolling basis and notify applicants via email.

What We’re We Looking For

The Design Leadership Summit brings together hundreds of senior designers, managers, and executives from across the globe. Speaking here means you’ll:

Process

Scaling design

Design operations

Building, managing remote teams

Direction

Scaling design

Design operations

Building, managing remote teams

People

Scaling design

Design operations

Building, managing remote teams

Past Speakers

Our January edition featured leading voices in design leadership who inspired and challenged our community with fresh ideas and bold perspectives.

Watch Their Talks

What’s In It For Me

The effort and time required for speakers to present an incredibly engaging and valuable talk at a conference is a tough task. Our team will work closely with you to ensure your personal and professional goals from the speaking engagement are met.

Economy airfare to/from Toronto

We’ll cover your round-trip flight so you can focus on your talk.

Economy airfare to/from Toronto

We’ll cover your round-trip flight so you can focus on your talk.

Economy airfare to/from Toronto

We’ll cover your round-trip flight so you can focus on your talk.

2 hotel nights at a partner hotel

Stay close to the venue in comfort, with accommodation arranged by us.

2 hotel nights at a partner hotel

Stay close to the venue in comfort, with accommodation arranged by us.

2 hotel nights at a partner hotel

Stay close to the venue in comfort, with accommodation arranged by us.

VIP speaker dinner(2 invites)

An invite-only dinner with fellow speakers and design leaders. A chance to connect, share stories, and build relationships beyond the stage.

VIP speaker dinner(2 invites)

An invite-only dinner with fellow speakers and design leaders. A chance to connect, share stories, and build relationships beyond the stage.

VIP speaker dinner(2 invites)

An invite-only dinner with fellow speakers and design leaders. A chance to connect, share stories, and build relationships beyond the stage.

Session recording + attendee feedback

Receive a professional video of your session along with real audience insights.

Session recording + attendee feedback

Receive a professional video of your session along with real audience insights.

Session recording + attendee feedback

Receive a professional video of your session along with real audience insights.

How to Make Your Proposal Stand Out

We’re looking for sessions that are relevant, actionable, and engaging.
Keep these in mind when crafting your submission:

Relevance

Tie your topic to the current challenges and opportunities in design leadership.

Clarity

Clearly outline your audience’s takeaways — what will they leave knowing or able to do?

Engagement

Use stories, visuals, and interaction to keep your audience leaning in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about speaking at the next Design Leadership Summit.

Have more questions, drop us an email at support@designx.community

Who should apply?

Can I submit more than one proposal?

What if I’m a first-time speaker?

Travel & accommodation details

Accessibility & recording consent