What if the web we dreamed of—open, inclusive, human—has become something else? David asks what it means to design not just for efficiency or engagement, but for empathy. Inspired by MLK’s call to move from a “thing-oriented” to a “person-oriented” society, this talk challenges the very foundation of digital design. From the way we measure engagement to the algorithms that shape our lives, David exposes how design decisions reinforce power—and how Indigenous principles of balance, reciprocity, and respect can help us imagine better systems. Don’t miss this if you believe the web can still care.

Museums are no longer silent temples of knowledge—they’re becoming living, breathing ecosystems of participation. Through projects at Tate Modern and Science Gallery Bengaluru, Madhushree Kamak explores how cultural spaces are evolving for audiences raised on interactivity and instant connection. Discover how art, science, and technology now collide to create immersive storytelling experiences that are both reflective and radically relevant. From curating complex ideas to designing for curiosity, this talk redefines what it means to build cultural spaces that think digitally, act inclusively, and feel human. Don’t miss this if you care about how design keeps culture alive in an age of endless scrolls.

As AI begins to automate everything from user testing to insights generation, human research is quietly being undervalued. In this provocative talk, Nielsen Norman Group’s Maria Rosala unpacks what we risk losing when we replace empathy with efficiency. She’ll explore what makes human understanding irreplaceable—and why ethical reflection and contextual nuance remain design’s strongest assets. With stories from real teams navigating the AI hype, Maria challenges us to rethink the role of research not as a bottleneck, but as design’s beating heart. Don’t miss this if you’re wondering how to stay thoughtful, credible, and human in an increasingly synthetic world.

AI isn’t just changing how we design, it’s redefining what design is worth. As creativity becomes abundant and automation takes center stage, what remains truly human; and truly valuable about the work we do? And how does this affect managing, mentoring and leading design teams.
In this future-facing DesignUp 2025 panel, global design leaders – Janaki Kumar, and Arin Bhowmick explore how AI is rewriting the rules of creative value and reshaping the currency of design.

What happens when your customer is an AI agent, not a person? It’s already happening. But there’s good news! Design professionals are uniquely positioned to lead this shift. Katja Forbes shares practical frameworks to translate your human-centered design expertise into Machine Customer Experience, turning disruption into competitive advantage.

Every designer knows the chaos: lost files, unclear handoffs, final-final versions that never end. Tired of it all, Yash built his own ‘cleaning’ solution—a homegrown system that quietly fixed the daily pain points of design teams. In this witty and deeply relatable talk, he shares how frustration turned into innovation, and how one plugin transformed a workflow (and sanity). Expect laughter, practical takeaways, and a sharp look at how design can clean up its own mess. Don’t miss this if you’ve ever searched “latest link please?” or dreamed of turning everyday design chaos into clarity.

As AI floods our world with content, authenticity has never mattered more. Lauren Celenza argues that storytelling isn’t fluff—it’s strategy. It’s how designers lead, align, and build trust in an era of automation. Drawing from her work at Google, Code for America, and her newsletter Tech Without Losing Your Soul, she’ll show how narrative clarity can be a superpower for influence and purpose. Don’t miss this if you’re searching for the human edge that keeps design essential in an AI-saturated world.

What happens when your product must perform in moments of panic? At Ford’s Safety & Security team, Sarika Goel designs features she hopes users never need—911 Assist, Stolen Vehicle Services, and more. Through real stories and tough lessons, she reveals the invisible rigor of designing for life-or-death scenarios—where trust, clarity, and speed are everything. Expect raw insights into ethics, usability, and resilience under pressure. Don’t miss this if you design products people depend on when stakes are highest—and failure simply isn’t an option.

Every typeface tells a story—of craft, culture, and connection. In this talk, Noopur Datye takes us behind the curves and counters of letterforms to reveal what it really takes to design a typeface that speaks with purpose. From reviving scripts rooted in history to shaping bespoke fonts for global brands, each project brings its own creative and technical riddles. Through research, iteration, and intuition, Noopur and her team translate visual languages into living, breathing alphabets that carry identity and emotion across contexts.

A state-of-the-union moment: a brief look back at nine years of DesignUp and rapidly changing Design, Product, Tech terrains. Plus unveiling plans for a milestone year ahead, on the edge of a Decade of DesignUp.

For nearly three decades, Allen Shaw has turned his sketchbooks into a visual autobiography—chronicling his path from a small town in Bihar to a creative life in Berlin. In this heartfelt, illustrated talk, he shares stories of persistence, wonder, and how drawing became a way to think, feel, and remember. Don’t miss this if you believe creativity is a lifelong conversation between who we were, and who we’re still becoming.