Taking Stock: What has AI done for/to Design?
AI and AI hype have occupied our attention for far too long already. We are deeply invested. Countless hours have been spent on AI-generated content, chunks of pension money were converted into GPUs and data centers, and our minds are buzzing with an unhealthy mix of fear and lust for the capabilities of AI technology.
Yes, the design community might see a bright future but we need more clarity on what was gained and what was lost. After five years, we want to take stock of what AI means for design and the design community.
Please join us so we don’t have to do this with chatbots.
Programme
The Design & AI Symposium 2026 is a full-day event from 9:00-18:30, starting with coffee/tea and a welcome from the organizers. Throughout the day we will host speakers, industry and academic sessions, community pitches, break-out sessions and a final panel. We will have lunch and network drinks together for memorable day in the midst of a busy, busy Dutch Design Week 2026.
09:00 Arrival with coffee
09:15 Welcome to the Symposium
09:30 Talk Luce Lupetti
10:15 Talk Robert Keus
11:15 Coffee break (Exhibition space)
11:30 Deep-dive: AI in Practice (Rabobank and more...)
12:45 Lunch
13:45 Workshop: AI and Education
13:45 Break-out: AI Delta Plan
15:00 Coffee (Exhibition space)
15:30 Lightning talks (sign up! 🤚)
16:00 Talk Simone Robutti
16:45 Panel discussion
17:30 Network drinks
18:30 It's a wrap
