DDX

Early 2027 · Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Where design & innovation leaders meet.

#ux · #design · #innovation · #product · #impact

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Guests
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Days
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Conferences hosted
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Attendees hosted
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Global chapters
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Sold out, every time
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Running since

People from these companies joined DDX

More than a conference

A whole day, designed around you.

From the first coffee to the conversations after the final session, every hour is planned — and the gaps between them are planned too.

At the DDX photo wall
A guest between sessions
Guests at the entrance
A speaker presenting to the room
A crowded auditorium
Rows of white chairs, filling up
A panel at San Diego Design Week
A handshake in the crowd
The audience, mid-applause
A conversation outdoors
Applause at Munich Creative Business Week
Lunch
At the World Design Experience
A talk to a seated audience
A guest with a drink
A panel on stage
The audience in the big room
On the microphone
At DDX
Picking up a badge
A presentation in a modern building
Networking under the banner
Two guests in conversation
The speaker board
In the lobby

The day

A day designed for you.

From the first coffee to the conversations after the final session, every part of it is built around ideas, connections and experiences.

Past speakers

A track record of bringing together the greatest minds.

Erik Spiekermann
Erik SpiekermannFounderMetaDesign, FontShop, Edenspiekermann
Dr. Elizabeth Churchill
Dr. Elizabeth ChurchillProfessor & Department ChairMBZUAI
Don Norman
Don NormanCo-Founder & Board MemberNielsen Norman Group
Joumana Mahmoud
Joumana MahmoudHead of Designfrog
Luigi Ricciardi
Luigi RicciardiHead of UXŠkoda Auto
Rowan Salama
Rowan SalamaLead Product ResearcherCareem (Uber)
Leopold Ajami
Leopold AjamiChief Influence OfficerNovel Philosophy Academy
Chris Clark
Chris ClarkCreative Director & Innovation ConsultantAbu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority
Richard Cawood
Richard CawoodMultimedia Design ProfessorZayed University
Jue Lu
Jue LuDirector TourismExperience Abu Dhabi
Erik Spiekermann
Erik SpiekermannFounderMetaDesign, FontShop, Edenspiekermann
Dr. Elizabeth Churchill
Dr. Elizabeth ChurchillProfessor & Department ChairMBZUAI
Don Norman
Don NormanCo-Founder & Board MemberNielsen Norman Group
Joumana Mahmoud
Joumana MahmoudHead of Designfrog
Luigi Ricciardi
Luigi RicciardiHead of UXŠkoda Auto
Rowan Salama
Rowan SalamaLead Product ResearcherCareem (Uber)
Leopold Ajami
Leopold AjamiChief Influence OfficerNovel Philosophy Academy
Chris Clark
Chris ClarkCreative Director & Innovation ConsultantAbu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority
Richard Cawood
Richard CawoodMultimedia Design ProfessorZayed University
Jue Lu
Jue LuDirector TourismExperience Abu Dhabi

Speakers from the last Dubai edition. The 2027 line-up is announced closer to the date.

Exclusive innovation & design leadership event

Product and design leaders exchange on the future of digital innovation.

Every edition is capped, so you leave having met the people you came for.

Two minutes

The DDX experience.

What a day actually looks like — the talks, the table talks, the people.

DDX in the press

“Designers, strategists and diverse thinkers come together to bridge the gap between groundbreaking tech and the heart of what truly matters: people.”
Paqui Lizana
Forbes Paqui Lizana — Global Head of Technology Strategy, IKEA

What people posted afterwards

Straight from the feed.

Unprompted, from the people who were in the room.

Theme 2027

The inflection point.

The year the tools stopped being the story and the judgement started being the job.

Three tracks

Built around why you came.

The same three tracks in every city, so you can shape the day around what you actually need.

01 — Leadership & communication
Grow yourself and learn to lead new paths.

Keynotes and panels on leading design and product teams through change.

02 — Methodologies & process
Solve problems in a better and faster way.

Hands-on break-outs on research, process and the tooling that actually sticks.

03 — Inspiration & case studies
Discover destinations of innovation.

Work from global brands, growing startups and innovative consultancies.

Tickets going fast 🔥

Secure your spot.

  • Connect with peers and innovation experts
  • Food, coffee and drinks throughout the day
  • Talks, workshops and roundtables by invited speakers

Every DDX edition so far has sold out. Seats are capped on purpose.

A wall of posts people published after a DDX edition

Who runs the day

The team behind the event.

Sebastian Gier

Founder

Sebastian Gier

DDX

Interviewing design and innovation leaders, and on stage at every edition.

Scott Robinson

Co‑host

Scott Robinson

CEO, FreshForm

On stage in San Diego and New York, and the person who keeps a panel honest.

Erëza Rexhepi

Operations

Erëza Rexhepi

DDX

Everything from the badge in your hand to the room you walk into.

Questions

Before you book.

What is DDX Dubai?

The Dubai edition of the global DDX conference series on UX, product design, AI and digital innovation, run by FastForward Global GmbH.

Who attends?

UX and product designers, product managers and strategists, researchers and innovation professionals, design leaders and executives, founders and students.

Where and when is it?

Venue to be announced, Dubai, United Arab Emirates — Early 2027.

Can I apply to speak?

Yes. Write to office@fastforward.global with your topic and a short outline.

Do tickets sell out?

Every DDX event so far has sold out. Seats are capped on purpose — the room is the product.

Venue
Venue to be announced

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Early 2027Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The 2026–27 tour

Seven cities. One community.