EVENTS 2025
IASDR 2025: DESIGN NEXT, TAIPEI, TAIWAN
After twenty years of growth, IASDR 2025 returns to Taiwan, the site of its inaugural event, marking a significant milestone for reflection and renewed departure. The theme for this 2025 conference delves into the changes in design research following pivotal paradigm shifts highlighted at the Milan 'design change' in IASDR 2023. It will explore NEXT innovative actions subsequent to these changes, examining new topics in design research such as more than human-centered design , and new methodologies, such as digital environments and AI collaboration. The conference is hosted by the Taiwan Design Research Institute and the Chinese Institute of Design, showcasing Taiwan's collaborative effort. This integration of design research and practice will particularly address industry and public design issues. Democratizing Design will be presented by Dr. Mai Nguyen, UC San Diego Design Lab Director.
san diego design week 2025 - education day at UC San Diego Park & Market, San Diego, CA
San Diego Design Week’s Education Day powered by UC San Diego Design Lab’s Educators Alliance featured an interactive, engaging event with students, educators, policy-makers and design professionals. The Democratizing Design team gathered student insights from the San Diego/Tijuana/Ensenada region amplifying student voices through a curated gallery of their insights and videos. Engaging with the education sector informs future collaborations and partnerships advancing the Democratizing Design Global Model.
WORLD DESIGN CONGRESS 2025 - DESIGN FOR THE PLANET at Barbican Center, LONDON, UK
Michele Morris, Associate Director of the UCSD Design Lab and Democratizing Design lead, will be speaking at the World Design Congress in London, September 9–10, 2025.
This year’s Congress centers on Design for the Planet, bringing together global leaders to explore design’s role in addressing environmental and societal challenges.
Michele will be discussing “Cultivating Community Champions: A Global Skills Revolution” with Sevra Davis FRSA, Jayden Ali, Kavya Saxena, Michael Bennett, and Suma Balaram Schippers, exploring how community led design, local skill building, and ethical AI can unlock real systems change.
📅 Catch Michele’s panel on September 10, 2025. 14:00 - 15:30 PM (UK)
You can buy an online ticket
TIJUANA DESIGN WEEK 2025 at CECUT, TIJUANA, MX.
What is Democratizing Design and Why Does it Matter?
The team has worked closely with the community, co-designing and gathering insights to develop a “Global Model and Action Playbook” that empowers people from all backgrounds to create sustainable and inclusive solutions.
Joan Gregor and Dr. Diana Robinson shared the project’s journey and invited the audience to take part in the collective construction of this effort.
TJDW, May 3, 2025. 12:00pm - 1:00pm, CECUT, Tijuana , BC. Mexico.
