AI is dominating headlines, but for many design businesses the real question is far more practical: Where do we begin – and what actually matters?
In this session, Meli Kaplan cuts through the noise to help design leaders understand how AI is reshaping professional practice – from early-stage design through to the technical documentation that turns ideas into realised projects, as well as client experience and operational efficiency.

Rather than focusing on tools alone, she introduces a design-led approach to adoption, one that reduces unnecessary cognitive load, supports better decision-making, and keeps human expertise firmly at the centre of the work.

Attendees will leave with a clear framework for identifying high-value opportunities, avoiding common adoption mistakes, and leading their organisations confidently through this next phase of industry transformation.

Because AI is not just a technology shift, it is a shift in how design businesses think, operate, and create value. The firms that succeed won’t be the ones using the most tools, they’ll be the ones making the best leadership decisions.