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The Design Effect

Exploring and celebrating the impact of design

Uncovering design’s role in a changing world – talks, debates, case studies and dinner discussions that will shift and shape your thinking. A day that asks you to look deeper. 

Tuesday 10 March | The National Gallery, London | 13:30-22:30

 

 

If the past five years have transformed what business and society need from design, the coming years are only going to demand more.

Technological, environmental and economic forces press hard on the creative thinking our industry is tasked with leading.

How do we identify the routes through the biggest challenges our businesses face? How do we design solutions that benefit rather than hinder our communities? And how do we apply creative leadership and expertise in a world with an evolving relationship to the place and role of human creativity.

Design leaders are responsible for helping corporations and consumers say yes to the brilliant ideas designers create – ideas that are often outside what we thought the parameters were. So how do leaders ensure design truly makes impact, creates genuine innovation and transforms results – financial and societal – in the face of all this.

Join us at The Design Effect for a day that will bring the pioneering minds of the industry together to learn, share, and think differently. We’ll also be celebrating this year’s cohort of DBA Design Effectiveness Award winners, and the creative and business ingenuity that makes our industry shine.

Tickets include food and drink throughout the afternoon and evening plus access to all sessions and networking.

Limited places. Early bird rates available on the first 100 tickets until 12 December, so book quickly to avoid disappointment.
Exclusive discounts available for DBA members and 2026 DBA Design Effectiveness Awards winners.

Watch the closing speaker at the inaugural Design Effect in 2024 at The British Museum.

Geoff Mulgan, Professor of Collective Intelligence, Public Policy and Social Innovation at University College London talks about design’s role in the future of our world.

 

 

 

Programme

13:30 – 14:30 Registration and welcome
14:30 – 18:30 Conference sessions including the presentation of the 2026 DBA Design Effectiveness Awards winners
18:30 – 19:30 Drinks and canapé reception
19:30 – 19:40 2026 DBA Design Effectiveness Awards Grand Prix presentation
19:40 – 22:30 Dinner and discussions

Dress code: Day to evening elegance and celebration.

Talks and discussions in the Pigott Theatre, networking in the Sainsbury Wing Foyer, and three course dinner in the Wohl Room. 

 

FAQ’s

What does my ticket include? 
Tickets include food and drink throughout the afternoon and evening, plus access to all sessions and networking. There will be: 
  • Networking with fellow design industry leaders. 
  • In-depth talks and discussions around the current and future role of design in business and society.
  • Find out who’s won and celebrate with the winners of the DBA’s Design Effectiveness Awards.
  • Exclusive after-hours access to the art and inspiration in The National Gallery.
  • The best design discussion you’ve ever had over dinner, in the Wohl Room.
Can I book a full table for the dinner? 
Yes. Booking to attend the Design Effect includes an afternoon of talks, debates, films and evening discussions over dinner. Tables at the dinner can sit 10 – 12 people, but you can also come alone – everyone will feel welcome and well looked after. Please book for yourself or for the number of attendees you would like to join you, and a member of the DBA team will be in touch to confirm each attendee’s details in due course.
 
I’ve booked two tickets but my colleague can no longer attend, can someone else come in their place? 
Yes, absolutely. Whilst tickets are non-refundable or exchangeable against future events or other DBA activity, you can update the attendee details so someone else can come along. 
 
I’m booking for the team, how do I let you know who will be coming on the day? 
A member of the DBA team will be in touch to confirm each attendee’s details including any access and/or dietary requirements and if there’s anything else we can do to best support everyone’s enjoyment of the event. 
 
What’s the dress code? 
Day to evening elegance and celebration, smart attire but not black tie. Browse the photos from 2024 for inspiration.
 
I haven’t won a DBA Design Effectiveness Award – is this event for me?
Yes, absolutely! The Design Effect is a day for the whole design industry to come together and explore the important subjects affecting how we design, who we design for, the landscape we are designing within and how we work together to continue creating impact and value.