Morning Roundtables

Options include:

Leading by design: From practitioner to strategic leader
Moderated by Matt Karakilic, User Experience Consultant & Coach at Omnia Consulting Ltd
As design roles evolve, so does the expectation that designers think and act like leaders — managing projects, building client relationships and staying ahead of tools like generative AI and spatial design. But how do designers make that leap from practitioner to strategic leader? This roundtable invites design professionals to explore what modern design leadership looks like in practice. Together, we will discuss the realities of stepping into leadership roles, communicating design value to stakeholders and adapting to rapid technological change. The conversation will draw on contemporary leadership frameworks and real-world industry experience, offering practical insights participants can apply within their own teams and organizations.

Minimalism vs maximalism in branding: Exploring the effectiveness of each approach and when to use them
Moderated by Vida Jurcic RGD, Founding Partner & Co-creative Director of Hangar 18 Design Continuum
Maximalism is having a moment—loose, expressive, and layered design is stepping in where minimalism once ruled. This roundtable explores how we can reflect that shift in brand guidelines that are less prescriptive but still cohesive—and how to embrace this maximalist energy while working within modest budgets.

Want to design a book? Writing, layout and surviving the process
Moderated by Emmi Salonen, DT Speaker, Designer, Creative Director, Educator & Founder of Studio Emmi
Many graphic designers dream of designing a book, but the process can feel mysterious from the outside. Let’s talk about the creative and practical realities of turning an idea into a finished object, from shaping the concept and developing the visual language to designing layouts, working with words, managing feedback, and staying motivated when the project starts to feel bigger than expected. Bring your questions, half-formed ideas and curiosity about what it takes to make a book.

Inspiration outside of design: How can designers draw inspiration from other fields like art, science and nature?
Moderated by Elyssa Schmid RGD, Instructor at Capilano University IDEA School of Design
Have you ever considered where designers get their inspiration from? How can we be inspired by other disciplines? In this lively discussion, we’ll talk about how to draw inspiration from other fields like art, science, nature, and even mathematics. If you’re looking to be inspired by the world around you then come join us.

Why is the world losing colour?
Moderated by Jen Cook, Director, Communication Design at hcma
With the rise of “Blanding” and “Beigification”, design disciplines have fallen into trends backed by algorithms. In architecture, the International Style, Minimalism, Scandinavian aesthetics, and other design trends are among the reasons why colours have been disappearing from our spaces, regardless of the culture and context. Similar parallels could be drawn to the field of graphic design. We’ll discuss why colours matter in our work—functionally, socially and culturally. We’ll also investigate the reasons why designers fall prey to trends and algorithms and finally look at ways to bring colours back into our work.

Contact [email protected] if you would like to moderate a roundtable or have suggestions for topics.