Share your expertise, inspire a global audience of design leaders, and shape the future of design leadership
We’re inviting proposals for four session types. Pick the format that best suits your topic and delivery style.
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.
A fast-paced 10–15 minute talk to spark ideas or share a sharp case study. Perfect for delivering focused insights that provoke discussion.
A 30–45 minute workshop-style session where participants actively engage. Designed to leave attendees with practical tools or frameworks they can apply.
Guide a 45-minute candid discussion with peers around a specific challenge. You set the stage, then help surface insights from the group.
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.
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
Design ethics
Measuring value & impact of design
Shaping vision
People
Talent & Structuring teams
Building alliances
Managing upwards
Get inspired by some of the standout sessions from past summits. From practical frameworks to visionary talks, our speakers have sparked conversations that carry on well beyond the event.
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.
Everything you need to know about speaking at the next Design Leadership Summit.
Who should apply?
We welcome applications from experienced design leaders, hands-on practitioners, and industry experts who have valuable insights to share. Whether your expertise lies in leadership, process, people, or emerging trends, we’re looking for sessions that deliver real value to our audience of design leaders.
Can I submit more than one proposal?
Yes! You can submit multiple proposals if you have different ideas for talks, workshops, or panels. Please submit each proposal separately so they can be reviewed individually.
What if I’m a first-time speaker?
We encourage first-time speakers to apply. Our team can provide guidance, feedback, and resources to help you prepare and deliver a confident, engaging session. If you have a great story or unique insight, we want to hear from you.
Travel & accommodation details
For accepted speakers, we cover economy airfare to and from Toronto, provide two nights of accommodation at one of our partner hotels, and invite you to our VIP speaker dinner with fellow speakers and design leaders.
Accessibility & recording consent
We are committed to making the Design Leadership Summit accessible to all. Please let us know in your application if you have any accessibility needs. All sessions will be recorded for post-event viewing; by speaking at DLS, you consent to being recorded and for your talk to be shared with attendees and in event promotions.