Keynote: Say It Louder: Artists, Activism & the First Amendment

Artists have always used their platforms to challenge power, and the First Amendment has had their back, even when governments tried to shut it down. The ACLU’s Jessica Weitz joins Jane Fonda and W. Kamau Bell to link culture to action. When democracy is at stake, there’s a role for everyone to get…

Money, Sex & Religion - How Design Turns Taboo to Touchpoint

Sex, money, and religion are no longer taboo—they’re trending. This panel explores how behavioral UX, gamification, and human-centered design can destigmatize what used to be off-limits. From intimacy apps to investing platforms, discover how intentional design is helping users navigate vulnerable …

Global Experience: What AI Means for Worldwide Communication

For the past several years, the global communication industry has quietly lived through the generative AI transformation that many sectors are just now encountering. Now the implications are much bigger than translation. As brands scale across markets, AI is reshaping not just content production bu…

Game On: The Future of Sports and Gaming Collide

The next wave of sports fandom won’t be built in stadiums; it’ll be built in-game. From the NBA’s digital court activations to Fortnite’s immersive events and EA Sports’ evolving cultural platform, the lines between sport and play are blurring fast. This panel explores how gaming is reshaping how f…

Featured Session: From Pilot to Payoff: 7 Pattern-Matched Traits of AI Systems That Actually Work

Most companies are stuck in “pilot purgatory” with AI. What separates the experiments that stall from the projects that scale? Drawing on research across 450+ companies, Sandy Carter reveals the five common traits that turn AI pilots into ROI-driven successes. Walk away with a roadmap you can apply…

Spinning Out: What It Takes to Build a University Startup

Research universities sit behind many of the world’s most transformative technologies—but turning discovery into a scalable company remains one of entrepreneurship’s hardest paths. In this panel, three founders who spun their companies out of the University of Michigan share the real story of navig…

Building the Next Generation of Trustworthy AI: From Generic Cloud Models to Custom, Local Intelligence

AI adoption is growing, but cloud-based one-size-fits-all models are hitting limits — high costs, privacy concerns, environmental damage, & latency issues. This session will explore why the next generation of AI will be specialized, expert, & local. Panelists will unpack how custom models, trained …

The New Bleachers: World Cup Fandom in the Age of Snapchat & Roblox

The future sports fan isn’t discovered in a stadium or in front of a TV, they’re formed in group chats, AR lenses, virtual hangouts, and video games. This panel explores how U.S. Soccer and other forward-thinking sports properties and brands are leveraging platforms like Snapchat and Roblox (home o…

Designing Attendee Experiences at the World’s Largest Events

The standard for live events has changed forever. Today’s attendees demand more than just a passive experience; they expect immersive, engaging and technologically advanced experiences. This session explores how the world’s most iconic events are not just meeting but exceeding these evolving expect…

Designing for Fandom: Where Brand Meets Belonging

Fandoms aren’t audiences; they’re communities. And communities thrive on meaning, identity, and emotion. Featuring anime brand Crunchyroll and global creative company Buck, this panel explores how brands use design to speak the language of fans and build deep cultural connections. From anime to gam…