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An unmissable opportunity to build your network, share ideas and learn up-to-date industry trends and best practice
Inspiring Today, Transforming Tomorrow
The Design Leaders Conference
Thursday, January 29th, 2026
Light House Cinema, Dublin
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About DLC
The Design Leaders Conference is where creative professionals across all design disciplines come together to connect, share and celebrate the power of design.
This year, we are taking a deep dive into MegaTrends — the global forces reshaping how we design, create and lead. As always the Design Leaders Conference brings together design leaders and experts who together are shaping the future. It's an opportunity to gain practical insights, talk shop, explore challenges, spark new ideas and spend quality time with your peers.
Whether you're in brand, graphic, product, digital, interior, motion, medical or service design, this is an unmissable opportunity to make meaningful industry connections, get inspired, stay ahead of emerging trends, gain industry-focused insights and engage in the conversations defining design leadership today.
MegaTrends
MegaTrendsare shaping our era from new technologies to climate change and shifting demographics.
Join us to uncover how these defining forces are transforming design and where new opportunities lie. Together, we’ll look at how shifts in a global context influence design nationally and how Irish design can position itself as a global player.
By drawing on the strength of Irish creativity and innovation, we’re inviting design leaders to harness the trends of the future to inspire transformative growth in their own practice, lead with purpose and design for impact.
Get your ticket nowJoin us at Design Leaders Conference
Learn From Industry Leaders
Hear thought leaders such as Connor Upton of Accenture The Dock, Emily Penny and Joel Stein of BeColourful, Gill Wildman of Upstarter Incubator and Jane McDaid of THINKHOUSE, deliver inspiring industry-focused talks, instilling new strategic thinking in your business or unlocking opportunities for you, your team and clients.
Future Focus Lens
Accelerated disruptions are a catalyst for change. New issues demand fresh perspectives and present new opportunities. Armed with the latest real-world insights from our subject-matter experts, we will discuss topics that transcend creative sectors and matter most today and, crucially, tomorrow and explore how to make a difference.
Design Leadership
Embrace the requirement and responsibility for design to lead and initiate meaningful change, capture the thinking and know-how to navigate crucial turning points for design and business as we strive to create a sustainable future, while still delivering innovation and value for clients.
Heighten Your Capabilities
Take a deep dive into the topics that pose the greatest challenges for design and creative business owners, directors, partners and managers who lead design teams and run successful creative studios. Speakers will ensure you embrace the future with new tools, renewed confidence, excitement about new possibilities and ready to innovate.
“A day to get out of the weeds and see the sky... always worthwhile. A great investment in our team who leave inspired, renewed, and full of ideas.”
— Mary Doherty, Red Dog
“The best conference for meeting fellow designers and connecting with peers”
— Bobby Comerford, Catapult
“An opportunity to benchmark my thinking on design as a profession”
— Stephen McGilloway, Bigsmall Design