design + AI 2026: Brighton Design Conference on AI, UX and Product Design

design + AI is a two-day design conference at Brighton Dome and venues across the city for designers, design leaders, product teams, researchers, strategists, creative directors and anyone working at the intersection of design, technology and artificial intelligence.

Across hands-on workshops, keynote talks, practical case studies and honest conversations, the conference explores how AI is reshaping design practice, from UX research, product design and prototyping to creative workflows, team leadership, design strategy and the future role of designers.

This is not another AI hype event. design + AI is about the real work: how teams are actually using AI, what is changing in day-to-day design workflows, where human judgement still matters, and what good design starts to look like in an AI-enabled world.

Tickets are available through the official design + AI website: designplusaisummit.com

About the conference

Design is at a crossroads. AI tools are changing how designers research, make, test, prototype, communicate and collaborate. But for many teams, the conversation is still caught between blind optimism and deep scepticism.

design + AI creates space for something more useful.

Taking place across Brighton, with the main conference programme hosted at Brighton Dome Corn Exchange, the event brings together 500+ people from across the design industry for two days of practical learning, thoughtful discussion and future-focused insight.

Expect a room full of product designers, UX designers, researchers, design leaders, creative teams, founders, technologists and senior practitioners asking better questions about what AI means for the craft of design.

The programme is curated for people who want to move beyond hot takes and tool demos, and understand what is genuinely useful now.

You’ll hear from people using AI in real design and product environments, explore emerging AI design methods, and leave with clearer thinking about how to apply AI responsibly, creatively and effectively in your own work.

What to expect

Across two days, design + AI will explore:

• How product, UX and creative teams are using AI in practice
• What AI means for design workflows, prototyping and delivery
• How generative AI is changing research, content, strategy and creative exploration
• The role of human judgement, taste and critical thinking in AI-assisted design
• What design leadership looks like when tools, teams and expectations are shifting
• How to build more useful, ethical and human-centred AI-powered products
• Where designers can add the most value as AI becomes part of everyday work

Expect practical case studies, experienced speakers, hands-on workshops, panel discussions and plenty of space for the conversations that happen between sessions.

Day One: Workshops and Leadership Forum

The first day is built around practical thinking, hands-on learning and deeper conversation at venues around the city.

Workshop sessions are designed for people who want to get closer to the work: trying new AI design tools, exploring emerging methods, understanding AI-assisted workflows, and building confidence through guided exercises.

Alongside the workshops, the design + AI Leadership Forum creates a focused space for senior design, product and CX leaders. It is designed for people leading teams through change, making decisions about AI adoption, and navigating the organisational questions that come with new tools, new pressures and new expectations.

This is a day for skill-building, peer learning and honest conversation, with sessions taking place across selected Brighton venues.

Day Two: Talks, case studies and keynotes

The second day brings the design + AI community together at Brighton Dome Corn Exchange for a full conference programme of talks, case studies and keynotes.

You’ll hear from designers, product leaders, researchers, founders and creative practitioners working at the forefront of AI and design. Sessions will look at what is changing, what is already useful, what still needs questioning, and what designers should pay attention to next.

It’s a day for inspiration, perspective, practical insight and connection, with a closing drinks reception to continue the conversation.

Speakers, contributors and organisers

The programme is curated by Andy Budd, a globally respected design leader and the curator behind major design events including UX London and Leading Design.

design + AI is organised by the team behind Product Unleashed, a multi-city series of product, design and innovation events running since 2020. Product Unleashed brings together senior practitioners, design leaders, product teams and digital communities to explore the changing shape of product design, leadership and technology.

Announced speakers and facilitators include designers, product leaders and AI practitioners from organisations including AirOps, Big Medium, Inanimate, Superside, Intercom, Near Future and Focaldata.

More speakers, workshop leaders and programme details will be announced in the lead-up to the event.

Who should attend?

design + AI is for anyone trying to understand what artificial intelligence means for design practice, creative work and digital product teams.

It will be especially relevant for:

• Product designers and UX designers
• Design leaders, Heads of Design and Design Directors
• UX researchers and service designers
• Product managers and product leaders
• Content designers, strategists and creative directors
• Founders, consultants and agency teams
• Designers already using AI who want to get better at it
• Teams looking for practical ways to apply AI without lowering quality

Whether you are experimenting with AI tools already or trying to work out where to start, this conference will help you separate useful practice from noise.

Why Brighton?

Brighton has always been a place where creativity, technology, culture and independent thinking meet.

Brighton Dome Corn Exchange provides a distinctive setting for a design conference about the future of the discipline: historic, characterful and right in the heart of the city.

The venue is close to Brighton Station, around 60 minutes from London Victoria by train and approximately 30 minutes from Gatwick Airport.

Tickets

Tickets are available for the Workshop Day, Talks Day, or the full two-day conference experience.

For ticket options, team bookings, programme updates and the latest speaker announcements, visit the official design + AI website:

designplusaisummit.com