Designer Day

International talents and influential voices such as Sebastian Herkner, Naoto Fukasawa, and Katty Schiebeck will speak at Designer Day 2026 about what truly matters in design today. They will discuss the everyday and future relevance of design, the link between regional roots and international practice, and the impact of reduction, material, and light. Panel discussions and short talks provide guidance and invite open exchange. The event takes place during Ambiente Frankfurt and is organised in cooperation with the German Design Council.

12:00 pm–12:45 pm · Region as Catalyst

with Sebastian Herkner and Barbara Lersch

The panel looks at how design rooted in a specific region can gain international impact. It explores how local design skills shape global debates and the role the region plays in cultural, social, and spatial change in the context of World Design Capital 2026.

Language: German

Moderator: Valerie Präkelt

12:45 pm–1:30 pm · Culture makes the difference

with Laura Straßer, Bodin Hon and Dilara Kan Hon (Studio Yellowdot)

This talk focuses on design as a cultural practice in a globally connected industry. It explores how designers work between craft and industry to create impact on a global level.

Language: English

Moderator: Valerie Präkelt

2:00 pm–2:30 pm · Service Design changes everything

with Prof. Birgit Mager

This talk focuses on service design as an approach to shaping complex systems. It looks at how processes can be clearly structured, user needs included, and change initiated in different social and economic contexts.

Language: German

2:30 pm–3:15 pm · Co-design as a democratic practice

with the German Design Award Newcomer of the Year 2026, Katrin Krupka, and Stéphanie Scheerens

The panel discusses what conditions young international talents need today and how responsibility, interdisciplinarity, and co-design shape current design practice. The discussion takes place as part of the “Form Follows Friendship” cooperation between the German Design Graduates initiative and World Design Capital 2026.

Language: German

Moderator: Lene ter Haar

3:15 pm–4:00 pm · Designing atmosphere

with Katty Schiebeck and Naoto Fukasawa

The panel focuses on the role of influential design figures and their approach to design. It shows how light, material, and reduction are used to shape spaces, influence perception, and create a timeless aesthetic based on clarity, proportion, and attitude.

Language: English

Moderator: Valerie Präkelt

From 4:00 pm · Networking with the design community

with Lutz Dietzold (CEO, German Design Council) and Julia Uherek (Vice President Consumer Goods Fairs, Messe Frankfurt)

The German Design Council has been operating since 1953 as one of the world’s leading centres of expertise in communication and knowledge transfer within design, branding and innovation. It is part of the worldwide design community and has always contributed to the establishment of global exchange and networking thanks to its international offering, promotion of new talent and memberships.