As the pace of change accelerates across industries, the ability to connect diverse perspectives and transform ideas into action has become more important than ever. This is precisely the ambition behind bodw Future Lab. It is a platform for creative exchange, enabling future solutions and transformative thinking through design and creativity. Through spontaneous dialogue and immersive experimentation, the Lab fosters interdisciplinary and cross-cultural collaboration. 

 

Following its successful launch as a sub-track programme during last year’s BODW Summit,  bodw Future Lab returns in 2026 with an expanded presence, shifting from a sub-track programme to a curated format consisting of pre-Summit sessions held in the second half of 2026, leading up to concurrent sessions running alongside the BODW Summit 2026 in November.  

 

Reflecting the spirit of this year's BODW theme, "Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform", the Lab goes beyond traditional talks. It creates intimate settings where designers, business leaders, strategists, researchers, technologists and innovators can come together to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions and explore new possibilities for addressing complex challenges. 

 

Through breakout discussions and structured creative exercises, participants gain practical design thinking tools and future-focused methodologies. 

 

 

A Platform for Future-Oriented Thinking 

 

At its core, bodw Future Lab is a future-looking platform built for intimate, industry-specific participation.  

 

In the long term, bodw Future Lab aims to grow into a global platform for innovation and creativity, while creating more opportunities for corporate partners and professional communities to engage with practical design thinking approaches and future-focused methodologies. 

 

 

Extending the Conversation Before the Summit 

 

The three pre-Summit sessions will explore topics including strategic foresight, food design and commercial semiotics, creating opportunities for deeper exchanges ahead of the Summit.  

 

The first session is scheduled for August and will focus on strategic foresight. It will explore how organisations can identify early signals of change, navigate uncertainty and uncover new opportunities for growth through foresight thinking. The session will introduce participants to practical tools for recognising emerging shifts, exploring multiple future scenarios and translating long-term possibilities into present-day decisions, demonstrating how design thinking and futures thinking can work together to move beyond reactive decision-making.  

 

Further details on speakers and registration for the pre-Summit sessions will be announced soon. Stay tuned for updates and be part of the dialogue from the very beginning. 

 

 

Continuing the Dialogue at BODW Summit 2026 

 

The conversations initiated during the pre-Summit sessions will continue at the BODW Summit, where bodw Future Lab will once again present three concurrent sessions hosted around Summit-relevant themes from 18–20 November 2026. 

 

These sessions will explore topics such as the future of empathetic spaces, macro shifts shaping society and business, and cross-cultural perspectives on longevity. Designed to spark exchange across disciplines rather than provide definitive answers, they invite participants to consider how design can connect expertise, bridge speculative design and inspire new pathways for innovation. 

 

More importantly, the sessions demonstrate the broader role bodw Future Lab aims to play within the BODW ecosystem: not just as a knowledge-sharing platform, but as a catalyst for collective thinking and action. 

 

 

Join the Dialogue 

 

Seats for the three bodw Future Lab concurrent sessions at the BODW Summit (18–20 November 2026) are now available for reservation with the Super Early Bird 3-Day Pass. These sessions offer a unique opportunity to engage directly with global thought leaders and cross-disciplinary professionals, exchange ideas across sectors, and explore how design can help organisations navigate change and create meaningful impact. 

 

Places are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Secure your seat as part of your Super Early Bird registration and join a community committed to connecting perspectives and transforming possibilities through design. 

 

BODW 2026 Summit Super Early Bird 3-Day Pass is available here.