The Design Conference 2025

The Design Conference delivered three days of thought-provoking talks, creative inspiration, and honest conversations about what it means to design today. A few of us from WorkingMouse had the chance to attend sessions in person. Here’s what stuck with us. 

Rethinking Success and Creative Identity 

A big theme across the sessions was redefining what success looks like and how we shape creative careers around values, not just outputs. 

Ren Rigby explored the difference between physical change and psychological transition, sharing her experience of burnout and the slow, considered process of building a more intentional practice. She encouraged reflection on early passions, rethinking what might be holding us back, and designing around the things that matter most. 

Emma Kaniuk posed a deceptively simple question: how do you actually want to work? Her talk was less about offering answers and more about encouraging curiosity, with a nod to the site Perfectly Imperfect, which embraces process over polish. 

Daniel Tim Chong added to the theme by reminding us to reconnect with the joy that sparked our creative journey in the first place. He spoke about the power of helping clients believe in an idea rather than just choosing from one. 

Joy, Community and Creative Culture 

Not everything was about tools and trends. Many sessions circled back to something simpler: the value of connection, play, and designing a culture that actually feels good to be part of. 

Steph Clarke’s session on friendship and creativity was great. She talked about starting clubs, celebrating small things, and making time to just hang out. A quote that stuck with was, “Annoyance is the price of community.” It was a reminder that community isn’t always neat, but it’s always worth it. 

Georgie Batt shared that joy doesn’t wait for things to settle. Instead, it comes from leaning into the mess, staying curious, and finding fun in the in-between. 

Maxime Manga encouraged designers to let go of perfection and create for themselves. He spoke about using your hands, trusting the process, and treating chaos as something to explore rather than something to fix. His line, “The chaos inside you is the new avant-garde,” really captured the spirit of the session. 

Tools, Practice and Creative Rhythm 

A few sessions focused on process and routine. They explored how to stay creative when things get busy and how to make space for experimentation. 

Mike Stewart spoke about the power of simple ideas and short bursts of creativity. He suggested treating personal projects like early crushes—make space for them, think about them, and see where they might lead. 

Devin Matthews encouraged everyone to stop waiting and start making. Sometimes the best creative breakthroughs come from exploring what’s already inside the box, rather than trying to think outside of it. 

Jose and Justin’s approach echoed this idea. By building the right systems and leaving room to explore within them, they showed how structure and spontaneity can work together. 

Final Thoughts 

The Design Conference was a chance to step back, reconnect with purpose, and get inspired by how others are shaping the future of creative work. The conversations weren’t just about design. They were about how we work, what we value, and how we bring meaning into the things we make. 

We came back with fresh ideas, renewed energy, and more than a few quotes we’ll be pinning to our desks. We’re already looking forward to next year.