About

Future of NYC Design

The future of design isn't human vs machine. It's human without machine literacy getting left behind.

Future of Design: Design × AI × Culture is a full-day conference and evening activation in Brooklyn, taking place during NYCxDESIGN 2026 and NYC AI Week — two of New York's most significant creative and technology festivals, running simultaneously.

Presented by 241, a cultural membership club at the intersection of hospitality, lifestyle, and creative community.

This is not a corporate conference. It is a community-curated gathering of designers, artists, founders, technologists, students, and cultural builders working at the edge of what design can be in an AI-native world.

Program

Three programming blocks.
One continuous thread.

Morning Block

Art, Identity and the Machine

How artists and designers use technology expressively without losing the human at the center. Featuring voices from creative agencies, art institutions, and immersive studios.

Midday Block

AI as Creative Infrastructure

Practitioner-level honesty: what these tools actually do well, where they fall short, and what real creative workflows look like when they integrate both.

Afternoon Block

Who Gets to Build?

Community organizations, emerging voices, and next-generation designers examine whose perspectives are shaping the tools that will define design for the next decade.

Speakers & Sponsors

Voices shaping the future

Industry leaders from the world's most influential design and technology companies join us to share how AI is reshaping creative practice.

Google

Design & AI Research

Adobe

Creative Tools & Generative AI

Figma

Collaborative Design & AI

FIT

Fashion Institute of Technology

More thana conference

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Live Vibes Installation

Vibescape's audio-reactive visual platform runs as an ambient installation throughout the day, transforming the venue in real time with music-driven generative visuals.

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Design Sprint

A structured design sprint gives attendees a chance to collaborate in small groups and leave with something they actually made together.

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Social Design Activations

During lunch, board game–inspired social activations turn networking into genuine play — no awkward small talk, just real connection.

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Evening Closing Reception

DJ set, live Vibes visuals, and a reception co-hosted by 241. Open to all day attendees. The night is part of the day.

2026 tickets
archived

These were the ticket options for the May 16, 2026 event. This event has concluded; prices are shown for historical reference.

Can't make it in person?

Livestream Pass

Watch the full day live from anywhere. All three programming blocks — panels, demos, talks — streamed across the day with live chat for Q&A. In-person extras (closing reception, hackathon, design sprint, social activations, portfolio reviews) are not included. Stream link emailed after purchase.

^$40

2026 event concluded

Student / Emerging

^$50

Full day access for students and early-career designers. Bring your student ID. All afternoon programming, panels, and evening reception included.

2026 event concluded

General Admission

^$120

Full day access including all panels, demos, afternoon programming, hackathon, design sprint, social activations, and evening closing reception with 241.

2026 event concluded

Supporter

^$200

Everything in General Admission, plus your ticket helps subsidize access for emerging designers. Community-forward. Limited quantity.

2026 event concluded

All sales are final. No refunds, exchanges, or transfers — including for change of plans, inability to attend, or failure to verify student status at check-in. Tickets are non-transferable and tied to the original purchaser. In the case of cancellation or postponement, tickets convert to credit for a rescheduled date.

Future of NYC Design