Debating the Future of Design

As sponsors of this prestigious event, Alex Bane summarises Taxi Studio’s two epic days in Chicago…

“The Future Of” design conference, held from March 11–13, 2025, at Revel Motor Row in Chicago, Illinois, brought together design and business leaders from around the world to explore the evolving role of design in the corporate world. It fostered open, honest discussions around the challenges and opportunities facing the design industry today.

Organised by David Butler, John Gleason, Fred Richards and Elisabeth Emory, this year’s event set out to answer a killer question: Is Design Dead?

As a key sponsor, I’m proud—and genuinely honoured—that we were invited to play a pivotal role in supporting these essential conversations. A highlight for me was seeing my longtime friend and fellow founder, Spencer Buck, deliver a sensational keynote on building sustainable relationships. Despite his signature foul language and very British dry sense of humour, the talk went down an absolute storm—perfectly underscoring the importance of forming real, lasting connections in our industry.

This conference was a breath of fresh air—intimate, inclusive, and thought-provoking. It provided a much-needed platform for design leaders to share insights, confront uncomfortable truths, and collaboratively shape the future trajectory of design in business. We can’t wait to see what’s next for this truly unique un-conference.Click here for more information about the event: THE FUTURE OF…