Top 10 Design Thinking Conferences in APAC You Can't Miss

Table of Contents

• Introduction

• Singapore Design Week

• Service Design Asia (Singapore)

• Design Thinking Tokyo

• Innovation by Design Summit (Hong Kong)

• UX Australia

• Design Thinking India Summit

• Design Korea

• Design Thinking New Zealand

• IXDC International Experience Design Conference (China)

• APAC Design Thinking Forum (Malaysia)

• How to Make the Most of Design Thinking Conferences

• Conclusion

Top 10 Design Thinking Conferences in APAC You Can't Miss

Staying at the forefront of design thinking methodologies and innovation practices requires constant learning and networking with fellow practitioners. For professionals across the Asia-Pacific region, attending the right conferences can provide invaluable opportunities to gain new perspectives, learn cutting-edge techniques, and connect with industry leaders.

As organizations increasingly recognize the value of human-centered design approaches in solving complex problems, design thinking conferences have evolved from niche gatherings to essential professional development events. They now attract participants from diverse sectors including technology, finance, healthcare, government, and education.

In this article, we'll explore the top 10 design thinking conferences across APAC in 2025 that offer exceptional value for professionals looking to enhance their innovation capabilities. From Singapore to Tokyo, Sydney to Mumbai, these events showcase the best thinkers, practitioners, and case studies in the region.

Whether you're a seasoned design thinking facilitator or just beginning your journey into human-centered innovation, these conferences offer something valuable for everyone in the field.

Singapore Design Week

Date: March 8-14, 2025 Location: National Design Centre, Singapore Website: singaporedesignweek.com

Singapore Design Week has established itself as one of APAC's premier design events, bringing together business leaders, design professionals, and innovation experts from across the region. The 2025 edition promises to be particularly significant as it celebrates its 10th anniversary with an expanded focus on design thinking methodologies.

The conference features multiple tracks covering various aspects of design thinking, from foundational principles to advanced applications in business transformation. Keynote speakers include internationally recognized design leaders and successful implementers from major Asian corporations who have leveraged design thinking to drive significant business results.

Highlights for 2025 include:

• A special design thinking masterclass series led by global experts

• Industry-specific implementation workshops for healthcare, finance, and public service

• A dedicated innovation showcase highlighting successful design thinking case studies

• Networking sessions designed to connect practitioners across disciplines

For professionals based in Singapore, this event offers the perfect opportunity to gain valuable insights without extensive travel, while still accessing world-class content and speakers.

Service Design Asia (Singapore)

Date: May 15-16, 2025 Location: Suntec Convention Centre, Singapore Website: servicedesignasia.org

Focused specifically on service design methodologies, Service Design Asia has grown to become the region's most comprehensive event for professionals working at the intersection of design thinking and service innovation. The 2025 conference theme, "Designing for Complex Systems: The Next Evolution of Service Design," reflects the growing complexity of customer experience challenges.

What sets Service Design Asia apart is its emphasis on practical workshops and hands-on learning. Rather than just theoretical presentations, attendees participate in facilitated sessions that apply design thinking tools to real business challenges. This approach aligns perfectly with the practice-oriented training methodology offered by organizations like Emerge Creatives' WSQ-certified Design Thinking courses.

Key program elements include:

• Two full days of hands-on workshops and masterclasses

• Case study presentations from leading service providers across APAC

• Specialized tracks for beginners and advanced practitioners

• A service design tools exposition featuring the latest methodologies and technologies

For professionals who want to move beyond design thinking theory into practical implementation, this conference provides exceptional value and immediate applicable takeaways.

Design Thinking Tokyo

Date: June 5-6, 2025 Location: Tokyo International Forum, Japan Website: designthinkingtokyo.jp

Design Thinking Tokyo has emerged as Japan's premier innovation conference, bringing together the unique Japanese approach to design with international design thinking methodologies. The conference offers a fascinating perspective on how design thinking principles are adapted and implemented in Japanese corporate culture, which traditionally values precision, quality, and incremental improvement.

The 2025 edition will focus on "Innovation Harmony: Blending Tradition and Disruption," exploring how established organizations can embrace design thinking without abandoning their cultural strengths. For professionals interested in adapting design thinking frameworks to different cultural contexts, this conference provides invaluable insights.

Notable features include:

• Simultaneous translation in English, Japanese, and Mandarin

• Cross-cultural innovation workshops facilitated by multinational teams

• Site visits to Japanese companies known for design excellence

• Special sessions on applying design thinking within hierarchical organizational structures

Participants will gain unique perspectives on how design thinking methodologies can be customized for different cultural contexts while maintaining their core principles of human-centricity and iterative problem-solving.

Innovation by Design Summit (Hong Kong)

Date: August 21-23, 2025 Location: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Website: innovationbydesignhk.com

The Innovation by Design Summit in Hong Kong serves as a critical bridge between Western design thinking approaches and Chinese innovation practices. Positioned at this cultural intersection, the conference attracts an impressive mix of multinational corporations, startups, and design consultancies operating throughout the Greater China region.

What makes this conference particularly valuable is its focus on practical implementation in fast-moving markets. Sessions address how to apply design thinking methodologies in environments where speed-to-market is critical, without sacrificing the depth of user understanding that makes design thinking so powerful.

Key components of the 2025 program include:

• Executive leadership track focused on organizational transformation

• Technology integration sessions exploring AI in the design thinking process

• Market-specific research methodologies for Chinese consumer markets

• Regulatory navigation workshops for innovative products and services

This conference is especially relevant for professionals whose organizations operate in both Western and Chinese markets, offering strategies to adapt innovation approaches across these different business environments.

UX Australia

Date: September 2-5, 2025 Location: Melbourne Convention Centre, Australia Website: uxaustralia.com.au

UX Australia has expanded beyond its original user experience focus to become Australia's most comprehensive design thinking event. The 2025 conference theme, "Beyond Methods: Creating Cultures of Continuous Innovation," reflects the maturation of design thinking in the region from a set of tools to a fundamental organizational mindset.

The conference is known for its exceptional speaker quality and rigorous selection process, ensuring presentations offer substantial value rather than surface-level case studies. For experienced practitioners looking to deepen their expertise and tackle more complex implementation challenges, UX Australia offers sophisticated content not found at more introductory events.

Highlights of the 2025 program include:

• Advanced facilitation techniques for complex stakeholder environments

• Measuring and communicating design thinking ROI to executive teams

• Integration of systems thinking with design thinking methodologies

• Ethical frameworks for responsible innovation practices

For design thinking practitioners who have mastered the basics and are looking to advance their practice, UX Australia provides the ideal environment for professional growth and challenging conventional approaches.

Design Thinking India Summit

Date: October 9-10, 2025 Location: Taj Lands End, Mumbai, India Website: designthinkingsummit.in

The Design Thinking India Summit has quickly established itself as the subcontinent's premier innovation event, drawing participants from India's booming technology sector, established corporations, and government agencies implementing citizen-centered design approaches.

What distinguishes this conference is its focus on applying design thinking to uniquely Indian challenges and opportunities, including massive scale, extreme diversity of users, and varied technological access. Sessions explore how to adapt standard design thinking methodologies to work effectively in these complex contexts.

The 2025 program includes:

• Scale-focused design thinking approaches for markets with billions of users

• Inclusive design practices for diverse socioeconomic conditions

• Public sector innovation case studies from Indian government initiatives

• Frugal innovation workshops integrating design thinking with resource constraints

For professionals interested in how design thinking adapts to emerging market conditions or who work with Indian teams and customers, this conference provides contextually relevant insights that more general design events may not address.

Design Korea

Date: November 12-14, 2025 Location: COEX, Seoul, South Korea Website: designkorea.org

Design Korea has transformed from a traditional design showcase to a comprehensive innovation forum with a strong emphasis on design thinking methodologies. What makes this conference unique is its integration of Korea's world-class digital technology expertise with human-centered design approaches.

The 2025 conference theme, "Connected Experiences: Designing Across Physical and Digital Realms," explores how design thinking principles apply to creating seamless experiences in an increasingly interconnected world. This focus aligns perfectly with the digital transformation and AI innovation skills that forward-thinking professionals need to develop.

Key conference elements include:

• Design thinking approaches for emerging technologies (AR/VR, IoT, AI)

• Case studies from Korea's leading technology companies

• Cross-disciplinary collaboration workshops between designers and engineers

• Future-focused research presentations on evolving user behaviors

For innovation professionals working at the intersection of technology and human experience, Design Korea offers valuable insights into creating meaningful digital products and services through design thinking methodologies.

Design Thinking New Zealand

Date: February 19-20, 2025 Location: Te Papa Museum, Wellington, New Zealand Website: designthinking.nz

Design Thinking New Zealand may be smaller than some regional counterparts, but it offers exceptional value through its focus on sustainability and indigenous design principles. The intimate setting allows for deeper engagement with speakers and fellow participants than larger conferences permit.

The 2025 theme, "Regenerative Design: Thinking Beyond Sustainability," explores how design thinking can address complex environmental and social challenges. Sessions incorporate Māori design perspectives, offering unique frameworks for human and planet-centered innovation not found at other APAC events.

Conference highlights include:

• Integration of indigenous knowledge systems with design thinking methods

• Circular economy workshops with practical implementation tools

• Public sector innovation case studies from New Zealand government

• Hands-on sessions applying biomimicry principles to design challenges

For professionals interested in expanding their design thinking toolkit with diverse cultural perspectives and sustainability frameworks, this conference offers unique value despite its smaller scale.

IXDC International Experience Design Conference (China)

Date: July 18-20, 2025 Location: China National Convention Center, Beijing Website: ixdc.org

IXDC has emerged as mainland China's most significant design thinking event, with over 10,000 attendees expected for its 2025 edition. What distinguishes this conference is its scale and its focus on how design thinking is evolving within China's unique innovation ecosystem.

The conference provides unparalleled insights into how Chinese organizations implement design thinking methodologies, often adapting Western frameworks to work within different business cultures and customer expectations. For anyone working with Chinese partners or in Chinese markets, these perspectives are invaluable.

Key components include:

• Design thinking adaptation for Chinese market conditions and user expectations

• Integration with rapid prototyping and manufacturing capabilities

• Case studies from China's technology leaders and traditional enterprises

• Research presentations on evolving Chinese consumer behaviors and preferences

While language may present challenges for some attendees, the conference offers English translation for major sessions, and the visual nature of many presentations transcends language barriers. For professionals serious about understanding the future of design in Asia, IXDC's scale and scope make it worth the potential communication challenges.

APAC Design Thinking Forum (Malaysia)

Date: April 24-25, 2025 Location: Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia Website: apacdesignthinking.org

The APAC Design Thinking Forum distinguishes itself by focusing specifically on emerging markets across Southeast Asia. The 2025 edition theme, "Inclusive Innovation: Design Thinking for the Next Billion," explores how innovation methodologies can address the unique challenges and opportunities in rapidly developing economies.

The conference brings together participants from Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines, creating a diverse learning environment. Sessions explore how design thinking principles can be adapted to work effectively in markets with distinctive cultural contexts and varying levels of technological development.

Significant program elements include:

• Localization workshops for adapting global design thinking frameworks

• Financial inclusion case studies applying design thinking to banking services

• Public infrastructure sessions exploring citizen-centered government services

• Cross-cultural research methods for diverse user populations

For professionals whose work involves Southeast Asian markets or who are based in the region, this conference provides contextually relevant content that larger, more general design conferences may not address. The emphasis on practical implementation makes the content immediately applicable to regional business challenges.

How to Make the Most of Design Thinking Conferences

Attending conferences represents a significant investment of time and resources. To maximize the return on this investment, consider these strategic approaches:

Before the Conference

1. Define specific learning objectives - Identify the key questions or challenges you want to address through conference attendance

2. Research speakers and sessions - Go beyond session titles to understand the specific content and case studies being presented

3. Prepare relevant questions - Develop thoughtful questions for speakers that relate to your specific organizational challenges

4. Schedule strategic meetings - Reach out to speakers or attendees you want to connect with before the event

During the Conference

1. Balance breadth and depth - Rather than trying to attend every session, select a focused track that aligns with your objectives

2. Document insights effectively - Develop a consistent system for capturing key learnings and potential applications

3. Engage actively in workshops - Participate fully in interactive sessions to practice new methodologies

4. Build meaningful connections - Focus on quality conversations rather than collecting business cards

After the Conference

1. Schedule implementation time - Block calendar time to review notes and identify actionable insights

2. Share knowledge effectively - Create structured learning sessions for team members who didn't attend

3. Experiment with new methods - Select one or two new techniques to apply to current projects

4. Maintain valuable connections - Follow up with key contacts within two weeks of the event

For professionals looking to build more comprehensive innovation capabilities, conference learnings can be supplemented with structured training programs like those offered through Emerge Creatives' entrepreneurship and business strategy courses. These programs help integrate conference insights into cohesive innovation frameworks.

Effective application of conference learnings often requires organizational support. Consider how new methodologies will fit within existing processes and what adaptations might be necessary for successful implementation within your specific context.

Conclusion

The design thinking conference landscape across APAC in 2025 reflects the growing maturity and diversity of innovation practices in the region. From Singapore's established design thinking community to emerging approaches in markets like Malaysia and India, these events showcase the evolution of human-centered design methodologies across different cultural and business contexts.

While each conference has its unique focus and strengths, they all share a commitment to advancing design thinking practices beyond basic methodologies toward more sophisticated, context-specific applications. For professionals serious about enhancing their innovation capabilities, these events offer invaluable opportunities to learn, connect, and grow.

The most effective approach to professional development often combines the inspiration and networking of conferences with structured learning programs. Design thinking certifications, like those offered through WSQ-accredited courses, provide the systematic foundation that helps practitioners integrate conference insights into cohesive practice.

As design thinking continues to evolve from a specialized methodology to a fundamental business approach, staying connected to the wider community of practitioners becomes increasingly important. These ten conferences represent the best opportunities in the APAC region to maintain that connection and continue advancing your innovation practice in 2025 and beyond.

Ready to enhance your design thinking capabilities beyond conference attendance? Explore Emerge Creatives' WSQ-accredited Design Thinking certification courses and discover how structured, hands-on learning can transform your innovation practice. Our programs, eligible for SkillsFuture funding, combine theoretical frameworks with practical application techniques developed by experienced practitioners. Contact us today to learn how our courses can help you implement the cutting-edge methodologies showcased at these leading conferences.

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