World Design Congress London 2025
A catalytic moment for Design for Planet. 9–10 September 2025.
Two days. Infinite impact.
For the first time in 50 years, the prestigious World Design Congress came to London. Over two powerful days, the Barbican Centre came alive with inspirational stories and provocative discussions around the crucial theme: Design for Planet.
Over 1,000 design, business, education and sustainability visionaries from around the world gathered to explore design-led solutions to the climate crisis and hear from leading voices including Dr Jane Goodall, Indy Johar, Norman Foster, Charlot Magayi, Leyla Acaroglu and Thomas Heatherwick.
Missed out? Don't worry, you can catch up on 33 incredible recorded sessions by accessing the World Design Congress 2025 On Demand platform for just £5.
"Let Mother Nature be your co-designer. She wastes nothing. She balances every system. She creates beauty with purpose.
Designers have a great responsibility to future generations because you are shaping the future at its very beginning. At the drawing board."
Dr Jane Goodall
"We have to redesign the underlying systems from the economic system, the regulatory system, the role of markets and companies, in the deep design of companies themselves."
Kate Raworth
"Don't design in the illusion of the present. Design in the reality that's emerging...Designers are going to have to become more entrepreneurial and construct new desire and new demand."
Indy Johar
"Even if you don't know how to do something yourself, or if you're not in a position to do something, just help somebody who is doing something...it could be an organisation, or it could be an individual, help them, support them, even at the minimum, celebrate them."
Brian Eno
"We have a nature knowledge deficit. We don't understand how nature works, therefore, we can make decisions that hurt it at our own expense...There's no design industry, that creates cool products, if there's no nature left."
Leyla Acaroglu
What is your favourite example of Design for Planet?
Welcoming Minister Ian Murray
The Rt Hon Ian Murray MP, Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport), gave the closing address to reflect on the UK's role in shaping and driving the green transition, in partcular through essential green design skills.
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