The idea that design is simply about how things look is a misconception we can no longer afford. Design now shapes how we live, work, and interact with the environment and technology around us. It solves complex problems, anticipates challenges, and creates experiences that are both meaningful and transformative. Yet too often, its potential is underestimated, treated as a luxury rather than a strategic necessity.

This evolving role of design is central to the Innovation By Design Summit 2025, hosted by Fast Company Middle East, presented by Msheireb Properties, powered by Doha Design District, with Media City Qatar as the strategic partner. To be hosted at Mandarin Oriental Doha on September 24, the summit will explore how design drives impact across industries, cultures, and communities. From reimagining urban spaces to crafting human-centered experiences and shaping emerging technologies, the summit shows how design can tackle complex challenges, foster innovation, and build a resilient, sustainable, and deeply human future.

Among the many sessions, some stand out for their insights into how design shapes industries, influences culture, and tackles complex challenges. These discussions are essential for attendees looking for both inspiration and practical takeaways.

The summit opens with Designing for an Uncertain World, where leading firms such as Shahira Fahmy Architects, Populous, Joe Doucet x Partners, and Cotton Design explore how design can move from creation for its own sake to purposeful action. The session will demonstrate how design responds to social and environmental challenges, turning uncertainty into opportunity.

Continuing the focus on human impact, Multidimensional Journeys: Designing for Real Human Experience explores how firms like AlHumaidhi Architects, MASS Design Group and BUDDE create experiences that are both scalable and deeply empathetic. The session demonstrates how understanding the people design seeks to serve leads to more meaningful outcomes.

For those focused on tangible results, Is Design the Missing Link? features Paqui Lizana, Co-Founder of Brilliant Failures, highlighting why thousands of new products fail each year and how embedding design thinking throughout development can improve outcomes. The session shows how balancing form and function can transform potential failure into commercial and creative success.

From product development, the conversation moves to technology with Building the Nervous System of the AI Age, led by Liquid Hectare. As AI workloads grow, traditional data models no longer meet requirements. Integrated, high-performance systems are critical for efficiency, security, and resilience, showing how design shapes the foundations of the digital future.

The summit also spotlights culture and heritage. Middle Eastern Brands Defining Generations with Samar Maakaroun, Partner at Pentagram, explores how legacy brands stay relevant while honoring their roots. Fueling Innovation with Purpose-Driven Design with Gehl focuses on ethical considerations and stakeholder engagement as drivers of sustainable growth. 

These sessions show that design extends beyond innovation to sustaining meaningful impact over time.

Beyond heritage, the summit explores design’s role in addressing global challenges and societal needs. How is Design Saving the World? features Debbie Millman, highlighting initiatives from sustainable architecture to human-centered technologies, demonstrating design’s ability to drive positive change. Meanwhile, Beyond the Screen: The Rise of Immersive Media in the Digital Age and Designing for Harmony: Rethinking Architecture Through Balance and Innovation, with creative agencies and architectural studios, show how technology and architecture intersect with human experience to create environments that are both functional and inspiring.

Practical applications of design across industries are also highlighted. Storytelling That Works: Designing for Impact in a Distracted World and Creative Intelligence: How Design is Driving Innovation show how creative thinking and design strategy help brands and organizations break through noise, build engagement, and foster innovation. Sessions on financial services and data-driven solutions further demonstrate how user-centered design can enhance accessibility, inclusivity, and efficiency.

Finally, the summit looks to the future with Shaping the Creator Economy in MENA, which explores how infrastructure, innovation, and regional support enable creators to monetize their content, scale influence, and shape culture across the Middle East. The session illustrates how design’s influence extends beyond products and experiences to industries and economies.

The Innovation By Design Summit 2025 demonstrates the impact of design across industries, communities, and everyday life. The panels bring together leading firms and experts to show how creativity, technology, and strategy combine to address real-world challenges. For professionals and creatives, attending these discussions offers a chance to see design in action and gain insights that can be applied across sectors. 

Attendance is by invitation only. Delegates can register here to receive their exclusive invite.