Berlin is introducing FORM / FUTURE, an innovative B2B-format design conference created to foster systemic change across business, society, and politics. Taking place from 11–12 September 2025 at the iconic ICC Berlin, this event is far more than a traditional conference—it’s a festival of exchange, designed with interactivity and transformation at its core.
Purpose & Format
FORM / FUTURE reframes design not as a discipline, but as a mindset—a tool for transformation. It invites a diverse, international audience—including designers, institutions, business leaders, researchers, cultural practitioners, and policymakers—to co-create the future of design-driven innovation.
The format spans two immersive days of programming featuring:
- Keynotes and panels
- Masterclasses and workshops
- Interactive pop-up experiences and immersive installations
- Design expos and curated networking spaces
All set within the temporarily reopened ICC, transformed into a creative lab that marries visionary architecture with hands-on engagement.
Berlin’s New Conference Format
This event marks a deliberate shift in Berlin’s design strategy: a fresh, hybrid format blending strategic dialogue with experiential exploration. As a UNESCO City of Design, Berlin is elevating its global leadership through FORM / FUTURE—a conference that reflects design’s capacity to shape future systems and societal solutions.
Notable Speakers
The lineup brings together globally respected voices in design and innovation, including:
- Phil Gilbert – Former Head of Design at IBM, known for leading IBM’s global design transformation.
- Barbara Lersch – Chief Programme Officer World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026, on sociaal sustainability through design.
- Jeff Chia – Executive Director of DesignSingapore Council, shaping Singapore’s national design strategy.
- Dr. Anna Whicher – Head of Policy, PDR International Design and Research Centre, specialising in design policy and innovation ecosystems.
They join other international experts from business, academia, policy, and the creative industries.
C O N T A C T
Alina Rathke
E: alina.rathke@senweb.berlin.de
F U R T H E R I N F O R M A T I O N
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