ADW celebrates collaboration, creativity, and cross-disciplinary exchange - supporting innovation and commercial growth through a curated programme of exhibitions, talks, workshops, and immersive experiences. More about ADW
People +
Place
People + Place honours the vital relationship between people, community, and the spaces we live, work, and come together - in an increasingly digital world.
At its heart, design is about people - their emotions, needs, and how we make sense of the environments that shape us. From indigenous knowledge systems to contemporary practice, Aotearoa’s unique design identity offers a powerful lens for creating inclusive, sustainable, and human-centred futures.
ADW 2026 invites everyone - from creatives to the creatively curious - to explore how design can foster social connection, spark conversation, and build a deeper sense of belonging, both locally and globally.
At its heart, design is about people - their emotions, needs, and how we make sense of the environments that shape us. From indigenous knowledge systems to contemporary practice, Aotearoa’s unique design identity offers a powerful lens for creating inclusive, sustainable, and human-centred futures.
ADW 2026 invites everyone - from creatives to the creatively curious - to explore how design can foster social connection, spark conversation, and build a deeper sense of belonging, both locally and globally.
The week at a glance
What's on
4 districts What
they say
The breadth of speakers, designers, and experiences present across multiple quality venues, make it a very enriching experience, just want more of everything!
Te Ari Prendergast
Warren & Mahoney
Thank you for curating such a thoughtful collection of diverse perspectives and for encouraging robust engagement around the design challenges facing creative professions in this unique moment in time—both in New Zealand and around the world.”
Rebecca McCarthy AIA PLA
AIA PLA
ADW brought our design community together brilliantly! As both speaker and attendee, I saw firsthand how this event connects diverse design disciplines in ways we've been missing.”
Rod Acevedo
RUSH Digital
The Design Conference opened my mind to what was happening outside of my own industry and left me thinking about things for days after. An invaluable day if you are a design professional living in Aotearoa.
Stephen
Creative Designer
