Design That Matters: How Innovation By Design Summit 2025 Is Transforming Lives, Business, and Culture

The Evolving Role of Design

Design is no longer just about aesthetics. It influences how we live, work, and interact with technology and the environment. Beyond appearances, design solves complex problems, anticipates future challenges, and creates experiences that matter. However, its value is often overlooked, treated as an optional extra rather than a key part of strategy.

Innovation By Design Summit 2025

The Innovation By Design Summit 2025 brings this shift in design’s role into focus. Hosted by Fast Company Middle East and supported by Msheireb Properties, Doha Design District, and Media City Qatar, the event will take place at Mandarin Oriental Doha on September 24. It will cover how design influences industries, cultures, and communities, from urban development to emerging technologies. The summit highlights design’s power to solve challenges, drive innovation, and support sustainable, human-centered futures.

Key Sessions

The summit offers a variety of sessions that provide insights on design’s impact across fields. These discussions are ideal for product developers seeking both inspiration and practical strategies.

Designing for an Uncertain World

The opening session features Shahira Fahmy Architects, Populous, Joe Doucet x Partners, and Cotton Design. They will discuss how design shifts from creating for its own sake to purposeful action. The focus will be on how design addresses social and environmental issues, turning uncertainty into opportunity.

Multidimensional Journeys: Designing for Real Human Experience

Firms like AlHumaidhi Architects, MASS Design Group, and BUDDE will explore crafting experiences that are scalable yet deeply empathetic. This session stresses the importance of understanding the people design serves to create meaningful results.

Is Design the Missing Link?

Paqui Lizana, Co-Founder of Brilliant Failures, will examine why many new products fail and how integrating design thinking throughout development can reduce failures. The session highlights how balancing form and function improves commercial and creative success.

Building the Nervous System of the AI Age

Liquid Hectare will lead a discussion on designing integrated, high-performance systems essential for AI workloads. The session will explain how these systems support efficiency, security, and resilience, laying the groundwork for the digital future.

Middle Eastern Brands Defining Generations

Samar Maakaroun from Pentagram will address how legacy brands maintain relevance while honoring their heritage. Additionally, Gehl will discuss how purpose-driven design and stakeholder engagement fuel sustainable growth. These sessions emphasize design’s role in sustaining long-term impact.

How is Design Saving the World?

Debbie Millman will highlight design initiatives tackling global challenges, from sustainable architecture to human-centered technologies. This session shows design’s potential to create positive societal change.

Beyond the Screen: The Rise of Immersive Media

Creative agencies and architectural studios will explore how immersive media and architectural innovation create environments that blend function with inspiration, enhancing human experience.

Storytelling That Works

Sessions like "Storytelling That Works: Designing for Impact in a Distracted World" and "Creative Intelligence: How Design is Driving Innovation" will demonstrate how design strategy helps brands cut through noise, connect with audiences, and spark innovation. Additional talks will cover user-centered design in financial services and data-driven solutions to improve accessibility and efficiency.

Shaping the Creator Economy in MENA

The summit will also look at how regional infrastructure and innovation support creators in monetizing content and influencing culture across the Middle East. This session highlights design’s reach beyond products to industries and economies.

Conclusion

The Innovation By Design Summit 2025 shows design’s expanding influence across industries and communities. It offers product developers a chance to see how creativity, technology, and strategy combine to solve real challenges. Attending will provide practical insights to apply design thinking and innovation across projects.