Design Dialogue

September 18, 2025

Join Our Global Design Thinking Conference Watch Party 18 September 2025 | Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika, UCT All day, or when you choose.

Be part of a global conversation on Design Thinking for Good as we stream the

Global Design Thinking Alliance (GDTA) Symposium live from Yaşar University, Turkiye – and bring it to life together in Cape Town. We come together to listen, learn and reflect - sparking energy, local insights and collective purpose.

Watching alone is informative. Watching together is transformative!

Depending on your interests and availability, come for a session or stay the whole day – our space is open. We’ll be streaming all the sessions, interspersed with our own reflection discussions in the room.

If you can’t join us earlier in the day, we especially encourage you to come for the afternoon highlight: the Closing Keynote by Srini Srinivasan, the live Q&A with Don Norman, and our Reflect & Connect session with snacks and conversation to wrap up the day.

Just RSVP on the link below by 15 September and tell us when you’ll join us.

Programme:

the Livestream Programme.

Our Watch Party programming in between.

The Morning Session: Design for Good and Transformation

08:30 – 09:00 | Arrive & Connect

Grab a coffee, settle in, and connect with fellow participants before the first keynote.

*Buy a Coffee and Muffin special for just R35 at Food & Connect (in our building)

09:00 – 10:00 | Opening Keynote: Sean Carney

Sean Carney explores how the global design movement Design for Good creates lasting impact through collaboration.

10:15 – 11:15 | Panel I: Design for Transformation

Prof. Uli Weinberg moderates a discussion on design thinking as a catalyst for systemic, cultural, and organisational change.

The Lunchtime Session: Design in Complexity and Learning Experiences

12:15 – 13:00 | Lunchtime Connect

Grab a refreshment, connect with old and new faces and settle in for the next session.

*Bring your own lunch or buy from Food & Connect. We’ll supply drinks, snacks and popcorn!

13:00 – 14:00 | Panel II: Design in Complexity

Richard Perez, the director of d-school Afrika, leads a conversation with panellists from Ghana, India and Turkiye on design thinking in the face of uncertainty, interconnected systems, and diverse stakeholders.

14:00 - 14:15 | Stretch and reflect

14:15 – 15:15 | Panel III: Designing for Good in Learning Experiences

Dr Hoda Mostafa moderates a discussion on reimagining education with empathy, purpose, and inclusive design.

The Afternoon Session: Design for Humanity and Community Development

15:15 - 15:30 | Stretch and reflect / Arrive

Quick break. Arrival for the Closing sessions. Grab a snack and drink, on us.

15:30 – 16:00 | Closing Keynote: Srini Srinivasan.

Hear how Design Thinking enhances community development policies, transforming top-down planning into collaborative placemaking.

16:00 – 16:30 | Q&A with Don Norman

One of the world’s most influential design thinkers engages participants in a live discussion on Designing for Humanity: Reflections and Challenges.

16:30 - 18:00 Reflect and Connect

Join us for a facilitated discussion to reflect on the sessions, followed by light snacks and time to connect.

It’s the perfect way to end your day – engaging conversations, fresh insights, and community.

Not in Cape Town? Host your own local Watch Party!

We encourage you to register for the free GDTA Symposium online and host your own Watch Party . To make it easy, we’ve prepared a quick Watch Party Toolkit:

Register directly for the GDTA Symposium – get the livestream link and participation details. Register here

Host your own Watch Party – bring your colleagues, students, or collaborators together and turn passive viewing into active participation. Download Watch Party Toolkit

Join the WhatsApp group where we’ll be linking Watch Parties and individuals across the Afrikan continent, taking the insights to the next level! Join Whatsapp group here