Since 1959 the two-day gathering (owned by the World Design Organization) has taken place every two years, bringing together the international design community and thought leaders from business, research and education to discuss and debate design issues of global importance.

Our theme for 2025 will be Design for Planet. The effects of climate change are more evident than ever and design has a crucial role to play to help reduce carbon emissions and increase biodiversity. This is a moment to convene and accelerate design's power in building a regenerative future for all.

World Design Organization (WDO)® is an international non-governmental organisation and the international voice for industrial design. WDO advocates for Design for a Better World, promoting and sharing knowledge of industrial design-driven innovation that enhances the economic, social, cultural, and environmental quality of life. Today, WDO services over 200 member organizations, representing thousands of industrial designers around the world. 

We are aiming to host world-class speakers from across the worlds of design, business and sustainability. The programme will be announced early 2025.

The Congress will take place over two-days, from Tuesday 9 to Wednesday 10 September 2025. The event will be hosted at the Barbican Centre, a world-class conference, theatre and concert venue and icon of London’s post-war Brutalist architecture. In 2021 they were awarded the Most Sustainable Venue award and have continued on a committed journey to net zero.

Anyone can purchase an in-person ticket for the Congress. There will be pricing tiers for freelancers, small businesses and students available.

Ticket sales are final and refunds are not provided, except in cases of cancellation by the Organiser. In the event that you can no longer attend the Congress, your ticket can be transferred to another individual (see 2.1 b). The new ticket holder must log in and complete their personal data in order for the transfer to be complete and a new ticket issued.

If you are attending the Congress from overseas, please check your visa requirements for the United Kingdom well in advance of your travel dates. You can find more information on visa requirements on the official website of the United Kingdom Visas & Immigration Department.

The Congress will be live streamed to a global online audience. Tickets for the online event will go on sale later in 2025.

Transportation accounts for 60-80% of an event's carbon impact. Make the most of your carbon expenses by extending your stay in London and exploring everything this amazing city has to offer, including the London Design Festival which kicks off from 13 September.

Help us to minimise the impact of this event by creating a personalised low-carbon travel plan using our custom travel planner tool. Select 'Get live updates' to keep your plans up to date with free notifications.

The Barbican Centre has achieved silver level in Attitude is Everything's Charter of Best Practice which seeks to improve d/Deaf and disabled people's access.

For all assistance related enquiries please contact congress@designcouncil.org.uk

We are looking for partners to come on board to support the event and its crucial Design for Planet mission. Please reach out about sponsorship opportunities.

For all press enquiries please contact press@designcouncil.org.uk

For all partnership enquiries please contact congress@designcouncil.org.uk

For all general enquiries please contact congress@designcouncil.org.uk

WDO supports a growing network of over 200 member organizations and is the only international non-governmental organization connecting corporate, educational, professional, promotional and municipal design institutions. Please note that they do not currently offer membership to individuals.

For more information on membership types and how to apply please visit the WDO website.

All WDO Members will be invited to register for the Congress (9-10 September 2025) and General Assembly (11 September 2025) through a unique link sent directly from WDO in early 2025. The General Assembly is an invite-only event from the WDO for WDO Members. Only WDO Members in good standing will receive registration information.