The conditions around design are changing, and so are the ways in which designers contribute. As execution becomes faster and more accessible, this panel reflects on how the designer’s value is being redefined, recognised and experienced within organisations and what this shift may mean for designers at different stages of their practice.

More people can now participate directly in shaping design outcomes. This panel considers how that is changing the relationship between designers and the people they work alongside, from how ideas are expressed and decisions are made to how expertise and trust operate when the boundaries of practice become less distinct.

Design shapes more than products and experiences; it influences behaviours, systems and the conditions people encounter. This participatory session invites design leaders and attendees to reflect on the responsibility that comes with that influence, creating space for different experiences and perspectives to shape the discussion.