DesignThinkers Vancouver 2026: Who, what, when and more!
Get ready to be "Out of Office." This year's DesignThinkers 2026 theme, created by Daughter, is a call for creative liberation—logging off, breaking rules and trusting your instincts.
Join us May 26 and 27 at the Vancouver Playhouse for DesignThinkers 2026 Vancouver, where we'll celebrate unconstrained creativity, unburdened by pressure and performance.
DesignThinkers is an in-person event, but attendees can also register to attend virtually through the event platform Pheedloop, where you can watch live-streamed sessions and connect with other attendees.
Register for DesignThinkers 2026Canada's largest graphic design conference, DesignThinkers connects designers and related creative professionals through roundtable discussions, workshops, presentations from industry leaders and much more.
“Well laid out, appreciated the snacks and drinks throughout, easy to find my way. Speakers were diverse and interesting. Outstanding customer service. Lovely theatre, comfortable, great location.”
Anonymous attendee
May 26
Talks
- Against Nostalgia: New ways to look at design history by Elizabeth Goodspeed, Designer, Writer & Educator
- C-C-C-C ¥%*# Cooking, Cinema, Children, Culture by Kenjiro Kirton, Co-Founder & Creative Director of HATO
- The Away Game Advantage: Why your best creative work happens outside your comfort zone by Roman King, Creative Director at Major League Soccer
- The Shift to Human: Reconnecting with what matters by Elana Rudick RGD, Founder & Creative Director of Design is Yummy
- Out of Office, Into Yourself by Dalit Shalom, Director of Product Design at The New York Times
- The Call of the Wild: Creative Rebellions by Laura Stein RGD, Partner, Chief Creative Officer at Bruce Mau Design
Workshops
- The "Analog Algorithm" Zine by Thomas Hull, Chair of Graphic Design at Savannah College of Art and Design
- Ditch the Sh*t Sandwich: Guide to Better Feedback by Dominic Prevost, Executive Creative Director at Resonance
- Putting the "I" Back in AI by Mustaali Raj, Independent Creative Director, Graphic Designer & Visual Artist
- Explore Everyday Inspiration with Wonder by Emmi Salonen, Designer, Creative Director, Educator & Founder of Studio Emmi
Sponsored Sessions
- Creativity Loves Context: Turning industry insight into creative advantage by Talia Palermo, Innovation Manager at Function Point
- The Power of Paper: Design, print and process hosted by Spicers
“The venues were great, and the RGD staff is always welcoming and pleasant. The opportunity to reconnect with acquaintances and meet new folks is fab.”
Anonymous attendee
May 27
Talks
- Lost & Found by Christopher Doyle, Creative Director & Founder at Christopher Doyle & Co.
- (re)Designing Design: What does it mean to design for dignity? by Nu Goteh, Founder of Room for Magic
- Killed Covers: A book designer's guide to rejection by Jennifer Griffiths, Senior Book Designer at Penguin Random House Canada
- Accessibility: Designing products that empower not just comply by Dee Miller, Director, Product Strategy & Insights, Product Equity at Adobe
- Your Next Product Will Design Itself: How generative interfaces will reshape your brand (and how to build them) by Peter Smart, Chief Experience Officer at Fantasy
- Type with an Accent by Ariane Spanier, Founder of Ariane Spanier Design
Workshops
- The "Exquisite Corpse" Collaborative Zine by Thomas Hull, Chair of Graphic Design at Savannah College of Art and Design
- First Drafts & Fuck-Ups by Erik Mohr, Owner & Creative Director of Made by Emblem
- Deepen your Ideas and Practice with Pause by Emmi Salonen, Designer, Creative Director, Educator & Founder of Studio Emmi
- Pirate Printing by Diana Varma RGD, Design Educator & Podcaster at Toronto Metropolitan University
Other Programming
- BCIT Downtown Campus Tour — May 27, 11:45 AM–12:45 PM
- In-House Design Awards Ceremony, Exhibit & Reception — May 27, 4:40–5:00 PM, Vancouver Playhouse
View the detailed schedule here.
Are you travelling to Vancouver for the conference? With the discounts we've lined up, you can save on your airfare and hotel stay.
2026 Partners: Daughter (Branding Partner), Forge Media + Design (Web Development Partner), Porter Airlines (Official Airline Partner), MET Printers (Print Partner), Spicers (Paper Partner), Quarterhorse, Akran Marketing, Vancouver Community College
Gold Sponsors: BCIT, Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Function Point, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
Silver Sponsors: Adobe, Hemlock Printers, Photos by Kateland, Porchlight Press
Media and Community Partners: Applied Arts Magazine, BCBusiness, Graphic Artists Guild, Interior Designers of Canada, Issues Magazine Shop, PRINT, strategy, Western Living
Questions about travel, accommodations, volunteering & more are answered here!
