Soho House Brighton — venue for the Leadership Forum
Part of design + AI 2026
Leadership Forum

AI is changing the
shape of design…
How are you leading
your teams through it?

Date
Wednesday 24 September 2026
Time
10:00 – 16:00
Venue
Soho House, Brighton
Capacity
Limited. Application-based.
A different kind of conversation
Design leadership
is changing quickly.
And most people are
figuring it out in isolation.
With new tools come new expectations and new pressures. This forum is designed to help you navigate those challenges.

While your team takes part in the Design + AI workshops, this is a space for you to step back and focus on the bigger picture.

We're bringing together a considered group of design leaders in Brighton for a more focused, senior conversation.

A chance to compare notes, challenge your thinking, and hear how others are approaching the same decisions in a room of people who are open about what they're figuring out, curious about how others are working, and interested in real conversation.

We're not looking for polished answers, just honest perspectives on what's working, what's not, and what comes next.

Brighton at dusk — the setting for design + AI
The format
No talks.
No panels.
No spectators.

A conversation-led day designed for depth, not scale.

◎
Small group discussions, with time to think, speak, and listen properly.Groups of 8–10, brought together around shared themes, in a setting designed for openness.
⟳
Rotating groupsConversations evolve as groups shift throughout the day, bringing in new perspectives.
🔒
Off the recordWhat's shared in the room stays in the room. A space for honest, open conversation.
✦
Curated, not arbitraryEveryone in the room is there for a reason. No noise, just thoughtful, relevant discussion.
Who it's for
Senior leaders shaping design, product, and CX.
  • Heads of Design
  • Design Directors
  • VP / Chief Design Officers
  • Senior design leaders working with AI
  • Leaders responsible for teams, systems, and strategy

We're curating for people who are:

Open to sharing how they're approaching change, even when they don't have it figured out
Genuinely interested in how others are working, not just looking to broadcast their own thinking
Looking to build meaningful connections with peers across industries, not collect contacts
Why it's worth your time
More than
a day out.
Fresh perspectives on the decisions you're making
A chance to step back and see your challenges through a different lens, with input from people facing similar questions.
Honest insight from people in the same position
Not polished case studies. Real conversations about what's working, what's not, and what people are trying next.
Connections that go beyond LinkedIn
People you'll actually stay in touch with, not just add and forget.
How to join
Apply
to join.

This is a private, application-based event with limited capacity. Places are confirmed on a rolling basis, so the sooner you apply the better.

FREE for Design + AI attendees.

Thanks to the support of our partners and the wider conference, we're able to offer places at no cost. Priority is given to those attending the main event, particularly teams looking to learn and apply together.

The Leadership Forum takes place the day before the conference, designed to build on and extend the conversations you'll continue at Design + AI the following day.

Applications are reviewed by the design + AI team. We'll confirm your place by email.
Free for conference attendees.

✓

Application received.

Thank you for applying. We'll review your application and be in touch to confirm your place. We look forward to seeing you in Brighton.

Partner with us

Interested in sponsoring
the Leadership Forum?

We're partnering with a small number of organisations.
Get in touch to learn more about what's available.

Email us about sponsorship ↗