DesignThinkers 2026 branding by Daughter revealed
Written by Holly Gallacher RGD, Daughter Creative
Daughter Creative joins the notable group of firms that have taken on the conference branding over its 26-year history.
Canada's largest conference for the communication design industry, DesignThinkers gathers visionaries from a variety of disciplines to explore creativity, the design process and the future of design thinking.
DesignThinkers 2026 will be held at the Vancouver Playhouse on May 26-27 and Toronto tentatively scheduled for Oct 20-21, both with options for live-streaming.
Registration for Vancouver is officially open! Register today to secure early bird rates.The 2026 DesignThinkers identity is built around “Out of Office.” The design reflects a kind of making that is driven by curiosity, observation and the physical act of creating, not limited by software or digital tools.
Built from found materials, textures and type fragments, the system feels imperfect, analog and intentionally human. It reminds us that design is not just what we make, but how we see.
The conference itself is about connection—leaving behind screens and schedules to gather with people who see the world through the same creative lens. “Out of Office” celebrates the spark that happens when you step away from your desk and back into conversation.
“We hope that 2026 DesignThinkers attendees feel permission to play and are inspired to close their laptop, pick up a pen, go for a walk or tear something up and start again. “Out of Office” is about the joy of process, rediscovering creativity in its raw, physical form and reconnecting with the community that fuels it. It is a reminder that inspiration often lives just outside your inbox.”
Holly Gallacher RGD
The team at Daughter shared their excitement in seeing the idea come alive as speakers, attendees and partners interpret and extend it. “Out of Office” was never meant to be a closed system—it is a creative invitation.
When asked about unexpected outcomes in the development of the identity, the team reflected on the value of getting hands-on again.
“We were reminded how energizing it is to get messy again. In a digital-first world, returning to tactile making, scanning, tearing, photographing and printing rekindled the curiosity that got us into design in the first place. The process itself became the proof of the idea: new energy appears when you step away from routine tools and rediscover the joy of making.”
Holly Gallacher RGD
The team also highlighted their love for how the textures carry the story. Many assets were built from materials gathered on real walks — torn posters, scribbled notes and bits of print ephemera. When scanned, layered and recomposed, they form a visual language that feels both spontaneous and intentional.
It serves as a reminder that inspiration is everywhere: in the grit of the city, the paper under your hand or in the moment you finally step outside.
