DesignConf 2026

About DesignConf

Join 2,500+ designers, researchers, and product leaders for three days of inspiration, learning, and connection at the premier UX design conference on the West Coast.

DesignConf 2026 brings together the brightest minds in design to explore the intersection of AI, accessibility, and human-centered innovation. Through keynotes, workshops, and networking opportunities, you'll gain actionable insights to elevate your craft and drive impact in your organization.

50+

Sessions & Workshops

30+

Industry Speakers

2,500+

Attendees

Days of Learning

Featured Speakers

Julie Zhuo

Co-Founder at Sundial

Former VP of Design at Meta. Author of "The Making of a Manager." Leading voice on design leadership and product thinking.

Keynote: "AI-Augmented Design: The Next Evolution of UX"

Katie Dill

Head of Design at Stripe

Former VP of Design at Lyft and Director of Experience Design at Airbnb. Expert in scaling design teams and building design systems.

Session: "Building Design Systems that Scale"

Khoi Vinh

Principal Designer at Adobe

Former Design Director at NYTimes.com. Named one of "The 50 Most Influential Designers in America" by Fast Company.

Workshop: "Grid Systems for Modern Web Design"

Don Norman

Co-Founder, Nielsen Norman Group

Coined the term "User Experience." Author of "The Design of Everyday Things." Pioneer in cognitive science and usability engineering.

Keynote: "Human-Centered Design in the Age of AI"

Sarah Rich

VP of Design at Figma

Leading the design org at Figma. Previously at Dropbox. Expert in collaborative design tools and remote design culture.

Panel: "The Future of Design Collaboration"

Michael Arney

Design Director at Google

Leading Material Design initiatives. Former design lead at Facebook. Advocate for inclusive and accessible design practices.

Session: "Designing for Accessibility First"

Conference Schedule

Day 1

Wednesday, January 7

8:00 AM Registration & Breakfast
9:30 AM Opening Keynote - Julie Zhuo
11:00 AM Morning Sessions (4 tracks)
12:30 PM Lunch & Networking
2:00 PM Afternoon Workshops
5:00 PM Opening Night Reception

Day 2

Thursday, January 8

9:00 AM Breakfast & Networking
10:00 AM Keynote - Don Norman
11:30 AM Panel Discussions
1:00 PM Lunch & Sponsor Expo
2:30 PM Breakout Sessions (6 tracks)
5:30 PM Evening Workshops
7:00 PM Networking Dinner

Day 3

Friday, January 9

9:00 AM Breakfast
10:00 AM Morning Sessions
11:30 AM Lightning Talks
12:30 PM Lunch
2:00 PM Final Sessions
3:30 PM Closing Keynote
5:00 PM Conference Close

Venue

Moscone Center South

747 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

Located in the heart of San Francisco's SoMa district, Moscone Center South offers world-class facilities with over 500,000 square feet of space, including state-of-the-art meeting rooms, exhibition halls, and networking areas.

High-speed WiFi throughout

Accessible meeting spaces

On-site dining options

Walking distance to hotels

About DesignConf