TIMELESS INFLUENCE

This hands-on workshop explores the current state of sustainability in design — what’s moving forward, what’s rolling back, and where designers can take action. Through a mix of interactive dialogue and a creative postcard-making activity, participants will reflect on their own practices, send bold messages to decision-makers, and commit to tangible design behavior changes. Whether humorous, heartfelt, or provocative, each postcard becomes a statement for a more circular future.

This session will empower industrial designers with creative tools and a values-based framework to take action on sustainability challenges—through circular design thinking and expressive advocacy.

“Your Manifesto Starts Here: Define, Disrupt, Design.”

This fast-paced, hands-on workshop invites designers to articulate their core values and beliefs by creating a personal (or collective) design manifesto. Through a series of guided prompts and small group discussion, participants reflect on what matters most in their design practice—what they stand for, what they challenge, and what they aim to impact.

The session culminates in the creation of a short written manifesto—a declarative statement that can serve as a touchstone for future decisions, projects, or career paths. Participants will leave with a printed takeaway they can post, share, or revisit as they grow in their practice.

This interactive exercise introduces newcomers to key techniques in user experience (UX) and human-centered design through a guided, game-like scenario that mirrors real-world consumer behavior. Participants engage in activities like interviews, card sorting, and persona creation to learn core research skills—observation, empathy, synthesis, and storytelling. Designed as an accessible, low-barrier entry point, the session requires no prior experience and fosters intuitive learning. By framing design as a creative, inquiry-driven process, this activity sparks curiosity and reveals that great design stems from understanding people. It also serves as a powerful recruitment tool, encouraging students to explore design with purpose and passion.

Want to future-proof your design practice? Start by designing for everyone. Presented by the IDSA Disability Section, this engaging session explores the power of universal and inclusive design through real-world examples and insights from practitioners creating access-forward solutions. Then, get hands-on in a collaborative design activity, hosted with Design Core Detroit, where you’ll reimagine real scenarios through the lens of inclusion. Whether you design physical products, digital tools, spaces, or services, this session equips you with actionable strategies and fresh perspectives to create smarter, more equitable outcomes. Leave inspired—and ready to make inclusion central to your creative process.

"Manage design research with purpose—translate user needs into metrics that drive meaningful results."

Design research is more than a discovery phase—it’s a strategic capability that, when well-managed, delivers measurable impact across the organization. This exclusive PARK Academy masterclass, offered ahead of the IDSA International Design Conference, empowers design leaders to manage design research with intent, align cross-functional teams, and translate findings into clear, actionable KPIs. Using PARK’s proprietary Design Research Roadmap and Livebook toolkit, participants will learn how to structure, lead, and scale research efforts that drive business value and elevate design's influence at the executive level.

What happens when two of the oldest design firms in the country sit down to talk not about the past, but about how they're still shaping what’s next? In this rare conversation, leaders from Teague and Sundberg-Ferar open the conference with a bold, honest exploration of what it means to design with a legacy — and how that legacy becomes a tool for navigating uncertainty, building resilience, and driving innovation today. With nearly two centuries of combined experience, they'll share the mindsets, missteps, and moments that helped them endure — and the future signals they're watching now.

This is more than a history lesson. It’s a provocation: What do we carry forward, and what do we leave behind?

What does it take to lead design that moves fast, feels right, and leaves a lasting mark? In this candid conversation, Ralph Gilles explores the intersection of performance, emotion, and vision in automotive design. Drawing from decades of experience, he reflects on how great design pushes past constraints—beyond the curve—and becomes a force for culture, innovation, and strategic impact.

As we close a day dedicated to honoring design’s legacy, this powerful conversation invites us to look forward — through the lens of those who’ve redefined what human-centered truly means. Patricia Moore, whose pioneering work reshaped how we understand aging and empathy, joins Dr. Isabel Prochner, a leading voice in socially engaged and gender-equitable design, for a generational dialogue about inclusion, responsibility, and the evolving role of designers in shaping a just world.

In a world driven by quick wins and rigid processes, creativity is expected—but rarely nurtured. Imagine creative thinking not only as an innate talent but as a powerful strategic lever that can drive business impact via new design mindsets. Participants will strengthen their creative confidence with inventive problem-solving methods to create meaningful innovation in this audience-driven dynamic workshop. Through live creative challenges, breakout collaboration, and on-the-spot recalibration of your design tools, attendees will learn to reimagine familiar approaches through a new lens. We'll explore how design’s value can be reframed in today’s business landscape, technological disruption and economic uncertainty—and how designers can lead with relevance and resilience. If you think design is dead, show up and let this session prove otherwise.

Born in Detroit and shaped by its resilient spirit, Shinola has redefined what it means to be an American watch brand. This session will explore how Shinola’s design philosophy is inseparable from the cultural narratives that inspire it—from the city’s legacy of craftsmanship and innovation to the broader stories that connect people, objects, and meaning. By embedding culture at the very genesis of the design process, Shinola’s team has cultivated timepieces that not only mark time but also mark history, identity, and sentiment. As the brand looks to the future of American watchmaking, the conversation will examine how industrial design can serve as both a reflection of and a catalyst for cultural evolution. The participants will be encouraged to engage in an open discussion with the Shinola team. If timing allows, a limited Shinola factory tour—including watch assembly, testing, and the watch strap factory (max 30 attendees)—will be offered either following or to kick off the session to deepen engagement and conversation.

Designers have a unique superpower: deep sensitivity and creativity. But that inner spark is often shaped by old stories—beliefs we've carried from childhood or social systems that subtly influence how we show up at work. This interactive workshop explores how Emotional Intelligence (EQ) helps designers recognize those internal patterns and shift them for good. Through real talk, reflection prompts, and small-group conversations, we'll look at why EQ is a competitive advantage, how to respond creatively in low-EQ environments, and why reframing challenges can unlock better collaboration. We’ll also dive into how diversity and lived experiences shape design outcomes—and how high-EQ teams create space for everyone to thrive. Whether you're facing a tough project, leading a team, or just trying to understand yourself better, this session offers practical, human tools to help you stay creative, grounded, and ready for whatever comes next.

In today’s competitive market, user research is a critical driver of innovation, reduced risk, and differentiated experiences. This panel brings together Vice Presidents of Design from Kohler, Whirlpool, and other top companies to share real-world examples of leveraging research for strategic and daily decisions. Topics include aligning teams around user insights, integrating research into agile workflows, and communicating findings to executives. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of how user research fuels meaningful design, cross-functional collaboration, and long-term business growth. The session highlights why research is essential to design’s strategic value and how to maximize its influence in large organizations.

Ever had an idea so bad it's brilliant? The Bad Ideas Workshop is your creative reset—designed to combat burnout, perfectionism, and pressure with playful, judgment-free exploration. Led by Alex and Jill, this hands-on session invites you to embrace chaos, push boundaries, and unlock surprising insights through laughter and shared risk-taking. You’ll reframe constraints, break creative blocks, and rediscover the power of play as a serious innovation tool. Perfect for anyone seeking fresh energy, trust-building, and a mental reboot, this workshop transforms bad ideas into bold breakthroughs. It’s messy, fun, and unexpectedly powerful—a creative recharge disguised as a good time.

Artificial intelligence is an unprecedented technology that defies our conventional methods of comprehension. Grasping the potential of Ai-driven design is fueled by emotional intelligence, curiosity, and a willingness to suspend what you think you know.

Just where are we with sustainability? How much progress have we actually made? Critically, given today’s headwinds – geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, escalating environmental challenges and a world that feels increasingly fragile – where do we go next? How might we design a future where we have addressed today’s challenges head on, and starting to create the conditions where people and planet can thrive? This session will make the case that shifting our mindset and approach towards regeneration just might hold some new answers, and some new possibilities.

This fast-paced, hands-on workshop dismantles the myths and fears surrounding AI in design. Through live, unscripted demos, participants will explore how AI can amplify creativity—not replace it. Using audience input, we’ll co-create a new company concept and design a micro experience in real time with cutting-edge AI tools. Expect bold experimentation, real results, and a few surprises. Whether you're skeptical or curious, this session will give you practical, eye-opening exposure to AI's true potential in design. Join us to move beyond debate and into action—building the rocket ship after liftoff and redefining what's possible in the creative process.

What does it take to prepare the next generation of designers for a world that’s evolving faster than ever? This session invites educators, students, and industry leaders to reimagine the future of design education—not by tearing down what exists, but by building stronger bridges between institutions and industry. From skill-building to mindset-shifting, it explores how we can create learning experiences that are dynamic, relevant, and rooted in real-world impact. The future of our field depends on how we teach, mentor, and evolve—together.

What does it mean to be a designer when the boundaries between physical, digital, and service design are dissolving? In this insightful talk, Christopher Robin Roberts draws from decades of experience across hardware, UX, and systems design to reimagine the path forward. It’s not about choosing sides — it’s about building a career that moves fluidly between disciplines, guided by purpose and possibility. Whether you're sketching in a notebook or prototyping an app, this is your invitation to design without borders.

User research is being redefined—not by any one technology, but by the way we work, what teams expect, and how quickly the world is changing. Drawing on decades of experience leading ethnographic and behavioral research, Marty Gage unpacks what’s changing, what still holds true, and where we're headed next. He'll explore how tools like AI are shaping how we synthesize and share insights, and why human connection, curiosity, and critical thinking remain the most powerful tools we have. Whether you're a researcher, designer, or strategist, this session will challenge you to rethink how insight can lead in an uncertain world.

The most impactful design doesn't just solve problems — it expands access, deepens belonging, and reimagines what’s possible for more people. In a world shaped by inequality and accelerating change, inclusive design offers a path toward solutions that are not only more just, but more effective for all. This session invites us to consider how social impact can be embedded at every level of the creative process — not as an add-on, but as a design lens that benefits everyone. It’s not about designing for all—it’s about designing with purpose, empathy, and the courage to shift the status quo.

Sustainability is no longer a specialty—it’s a design imperative. As global challenges accelerate, designers are uniquely positioned to lead the shift toward products, systems, and services that restore rather than deplete. This session explores why integrating sustainable thinking isn't just good practice—it’s the future of meaningful design. From materials to mindsets, you'll leave with a deeper understanding of how to embed sustainability into your work, and why your influence as a designer matters more than ever.

This is a defining moment for industrial design.Today’s designers are no longer confined to a single role, process, or product. They are shaping experiences, influencing culture, driving innovation, and leading in spaces far beyond the studio. Designers today are being called to think bigger, lead smarter, and show up where it matters most — in business, in community, and in shaping what’s next.

As industrial designers confront new tools like AI, shifting business models, and rising ethical stakes, one question becomes urgent: how do we stay relevant while staying true to our values? This workshop blends provocation and play to explore the responsibility we carry, as individuals and as a profession, at a time when creativity can be automated and disruption is constant. Through group exercises, reflective discussions, and a future-focused mindset, participants will explore how to futureproof their design practice by doubling down on what only humans can do.

In a world dominated by flat screens, frictionless swipes, immersive visuals, and spatial audio, the physicality of experience--especially touch--has been left behind, reduced to a secondary sense. Yet touch remains incredibly efficient: it demands far less "brain power" than vision, and creates fast, intuitive, and trustworthy feedback loops.

Drawing on over a decade of design and business model experimentation, the team at Box Clever will share insights on how independent, agile creative teams can drive exceptional value for both startups and Fortune 100 companies. This session explores the limitations of traditional fee-for-service models and introduces alternative approaches to better balance risk and reward. Through real case studies and lessons from Box Garden Ventures, presenters will offer a compelling look at a new, sustainable model for design studios. Join Bret, Dickon, and BGV partners in an honest discussion about building and designing companies for today’s evolving business and design landscape.

Design Your Career Journey: Build the Future You Want. This is an interactive workshop designed for industrial designers at every stage of their career. Through a blend of guided reflection, industry insights, and hands-on activities, participants will explore both timeless and contemporary approaches to career development. Inspired by real-world journeys from their favorite design leaders, attendees will gain clarity on their own goals and values—then translate that insight into a personalized, visual career roadmap you can take with you at the end of the session. Whether you're just starting out, pivoting, or leveling up, this session offers space to rethink, refocus, and take action.