24–26 September 2026
The
Programme.
Day 1 · 24 Sep
People
Day 2 · 25 Sep
Planet
Day 3 · 26 Sep
Profit
30+
Speakers across all three days
18+
Workshops & masterclasses
11
Experience types on the floor
3
Evening experiences included
Daily Sessions
What's on, day by day.
People Day · 24 Sep
Centring communities, removing barriers, and celebrating diverse voices across all forms of design.
Main Stage
Opening Keynote
Design Begins With People
Keynote
Keynote
Designing Public Systems That People Trust
Keynote
Panel
Who Are We Designing For, Really?
Panel
Case Study
Designing for Real People in African Contexts
Case Study
Fireside Chat
How We Teach Design Shapes What Designers Become
Fireside
Fireside Chat
Culture, Identity & the Responsibility of Designers
Fireside
Workshops & Masterclasses
01
Inclusive UX for African Digital Products
02
Designing Physical Spaces for Human Dignity
03
Human-Centered Research Without Big Budgets
04
Culture as a Design System
05
Ethical Storytelling in the Age of Algorithms
06
Designing for Accessibility in Low-Resource Contexts
Challenge · with WDCD
Design for Belonging
Brief Day 1 → Teams work across all 3 days → Pitch on Day 3.
Planet Day · 25 Sep
Using tools, materials, and decisions that support ecological balance and long-term resilience.
Main Stage
Opening Keynote
Designing for a Planet Under Pressure
Keynote
Keynote
Policy, Standards & Design in Sustainable Futures
Keynote
Panel
Sustainability Without the Buzzwords
Panel
Case Study
From Linear to Circular: Design That Reduces Harm
Case Study
Fireside Chat
The Future We’re Designing Into
Fireside
Workshops & Masterclasses
01
Sustainable Digital Design Practices
02
Circular Design with Physical Materials
03
Designing Visuals for Environmental Action
04
The Hidden Environmental Cost of Digital Design
05
Designing Circular Systems, Not Just Products
06
Materials, Tools & Ethical Design Decisions
Profit Day · 26 Sep
Ethical entrepreneurship, creative economy, and long-term value — design for sustainable business.
Main Stage
Opening Keynote
Design Begins With People
Keynote
Keynote
Design, Trade & Competitiveness
Keynote
Panel
Can Design Be Ethical and Profitable?
Panel
Fireside Chat
Building Sustainable Creative Careers
Fireside
Case Study
Design as a Competitive Advantage
Case Study
Closing Keynote
Designing for People, Planet & Profit
Closing
Workshops & Masterclasses
01
Pricing Design Work Fairly & Sustainably
02
Designing Your Creative Business Model
03
From Freelancer to Studio
04
Building Ethical Creative Businesses
05
Designing Systems, Not Just Deliverables
06
Sustainable Client Relationships
Challenge · with WDCD
Design for Belonging — Live Pitches
Teams pitch to a live panel. Brief given Day 1 — pitch happens today.
Beyond the Main Stage
11 experience types
across three days.
Talks & Conversations
Keynotes, fireside chats, and panels with creative leaders, innovators, and changemakers.
01
Workshops & Masterclasses
Hands-on learning across branding, UX, motion, strategy, and sustainability.
02
Labs & Creative Challenges
Immersive design labs, hackathons, and challenges where participants co-create real solutions.
03
Career & Mentorship Hub
Speed mentoring, portfolio reviews, internship matching, and career fairs.
04
Exhibitions & Showcases
Brands, studios, universities, and sustainable creators on the expo floor.
05
Youth & Student Experiences
Purpose-built sessions for JHS, SHS, and university students.
06
Innovation & Tech Zone
AI tools, experimental materials, circular innovation, and digital art installations.
07
Networking & Community
Mixers, design cafés, and networking lounges running all three days.
08
Evening Experiences
The Spacebar. Creative parties. Music meets art. After-hours connection and celebration.
09–11
Ready to Join?
Three days. One community.
Passes from GHC 150. Students, practitioners, studio leads — all welcome.