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design+AI 2026 · Workshop Day

Build & Launch Your Own
Design Tool.

Build and launch your own AI-powered design tool from scratch in a practical, collaborative workshop designed to change the way you work. Whether you've never opened a terminal before or already write code every day, Tom and Jonny will guide you through creating something genuinely useful.

AI is transforming how designers build products, but keeping up with the pace of change can feel overwhelming. This workshop gives you the space, structure and support to go beyond experimentation and actually build something useful.

By the end of the session you'll have built, deployed and shared a working tool that you can continue developing after the conference. The session is designed to meet designers wherever they are whether you've never opened a terminal before or already write code every day.

Learn by building rather than watching. Create a genuinely useful design tool you can continue using after the event. Gain confidence working with AI coding tools, collaborate with other designers exploring AI, and develop practical skills you can take back to your team immediately.

Build a custom design tool using AI from scratch
Deploy your work online during the session
Use AI coding agents effectively throughout a build process
Apply reusable UI frameworks and agent workflows to future projects
  • 1
    Introductions & AI confidence check
    A quick check-in to understand everyone's experience with AI and coding tools, so the session can be tailored to the group.
  • 2
    Why now is the time to build
    A short introduction to this moment in AI, why there's never been a better time for designers to build their own tools, and what's now possible.
  • 3
    Build 1: Learn by building
    Everyone goes end-to-end on a small, simple design tool to get comfortable with the process and understand the fundamentals.
  • 4
    Build 2: Bring your idea to life
    The main event. You'll spend around an hour building your own design tool, with regular check-ins and hands-on support from Tom and Jonny throughout.
  • 5
    Demos & prizes
    Finish by sharing a selection of the tools created during the session, with prizes for the best tools across three different categories.
A live design tool hosted online, built during the session
A reusable UI framework kit
Agent markdown templates for future projects
Workshop slides and resources
Swag and the opportunity to demo your work
Prizes across three categories for the best tools

Designers of all technical abilities. Whether you're completely new to building with AI or already comfortable writing code, the workshop is designed to meet you where you are.

Tom Harman

Tom Harman is co-founder of Near Future, a design-focused AI consultancy working with clients including Wise and Attio. With nearly 40 years of combined experience as designers, leaders and founders between him and Jonny, Tom is focused on making AI technology real and useful within real teams.

His work sits at the intersection of design craft and emerging technology helping organisations move beyond experimentation and into genuine, practical change.

Jonny Burch

Jonny Burch is a builder and co-founder at Near Future. Alongside Tom, he brings decades of experience as a designer, leader and founder to the consultancy's work with product teams navigating the shift to AI-assisted development.

The Build & Launch workshop distils their hands-on approach into a practical session designed to meet designers wherever they are, from complete beginners to those already comfortable with code.

Join them in Brighton
this September.

Talks Day tickets are still available. Workshop Day is now sold out.

Reserve Your Spot ↗