Beyond the Main Stage
Changing Economy, Changing Design Roles
- DateMon, June 22, 2026
- Time18:30 – 22:00
- VenueCUPRA City Garage Berlin
Join us the evening before the main stage opens — drinks, music, and a moderated panel with peers who are already in town. In partnership with Service Design Drinks Berlin, we're hosting Changing Economy, Changing Design Roles: a discussion on how AI, shifting expectations, and questions of influence are redefining research and design roles in real time. You walk into Day 1 already knowing the room.
- A moderated panel and Q&A on how design and research roles are being redefined - your questions welcome
- Two DJs setting the room before and after the panel
- Drinks & light snacks on us
Ex-SAP | Design Thinking Coach, Hasso Plattner Institute
in PanelistFounder, Undiscovered
in PanelistAI, Digital & UX Strategy Advisor; Founder, ES Ltd
inSide Event Dinner
sign up hereClosing Drinks with the Interaction Design Foundation
- DateWed, June 24, 2026 — evening
- TimeFrom 19:00 (to confirm)
- VenueTBD
- Open toAll attendees
Once the main programme wraps on Wednesday, we're keeping the lights on with the Interaction Design Foundation. No agenda, no panels — just drinks, and the people you've spent two days listening to now around the same table. The right place to swap notes, follow up on a conversation from the hallway, or land on whatever the takeaway of the summit was for you.
Side Event Dinner
sign up hereSponsor dinners
Two private dinners hosted by our sponsors during the summit. Attendance is by direct invitation.
Have questions about the side events? Reach out to catalina@merlien.org

