Design Matters 26 Tokyo

Design Matters 26 is an international conference focused on digital design, UX, product design, technology, and the evolving role of designers. The 2026 edition will take place on November 14–15, 2026, in Tokyo, Japan, bringing together designers, technologists, and creative professionals from around the world.

The two-day event combines talks, hands-on workshops, networking activities, exhibitions, creative activities, and evening performances. The conference is designed to encourage knowledge sharing, practical learning, and meaningful connections within the global design community.

Design Matters 26 explores four central themes: Slow Speed, Driven Decisions, Connecting Beyond Screens, and Designer's Evolution. These themes examine thoughtful design in an age of AI-driven acceleration, the importance of human judgment, designing experiences beyond digital interfaces, and how designers can adapt their skills and responsibilities as technology continues to evolve.

The conference covers a broad range of disciplines including UX/UI, product design, visual design, service design, motion, content, branding, front-end development, game design, and future-focused design. The 2026 lineup includes speakers and practitioners from organizations such as Figma, Duolingo, SpaceXAI, Miro, Valtech, Ciklum, Medium, and others.

The event will be held at DMM.com's Head Office in the Sumitomo Fudosan Roppongi Grand Tower in Roppongi, Tokyo. The venue was designed by teamLab and features digital artworks and interactive visual experiences, making it particularly fitting for a conference centered on digital design and technology.