PARIS, FRA
PARIS, FRA
[
]
MEXICO CITY, MEX
MEXICO CITY, MEX
[
]
SYDNEY, AUS
SYDNEY, AUS
[
]
June 11-12
feat.

London
¬O–= 3
¬3
3
[The Watches x Solstice]
A New Chapter for Design Leadership is Unfolding.
It begins with whispers scattered across three cities, uncovered in quiet gatherings.
It culminates in Barcelona, where the brightest minds in design leadership gather to decode, align, and map what’s next.
Amsterdam
Where the journey begins : raw ideas, early signals, and the kind of honesty that only comes over a good dinner.
Paris
The conversation deepens, patterns emerge, tensions surface, and the picture starts to take shape.
Geneva
The last dinner before London where clarity replaces noise, and instinct becomes conviction.
London
Two days. Twenty-five leaders. One shared direction for design leadership in Europe.
What You Take Back from
The Watches & The Solstice
Connecting with Europe’s top design leaders
The kind of conversations that don't happen at conferences, and don't disappear after them either.
Thinking bigger with hands-on workshops
Sessions built to challenge how you think, not confirm what you already know. Walk in with questions. Leave with better ones.
Shaping the future of design leadership
Beyond trends and talking points, a space to confront real leadership challenges, and leave with a direction that's actually yours.
Choose your entry point.
Three intimate dinners across Europe. Two days in London. One or all — the Society welcomes you either way.
[2 days In London]
The Solstice
A closed-door conference where signals become projections defining the future of design leadership in Europe.
Visionary talks
Intimate talks led by design leaders, focused on real challenges, lived experiences, and what matter now.
Practical workshops
Roll up your sleeves in interactive sessions focused on real-world tools and strategies.
Purposeful networking
Connect with peers who share your questions, your challenges, and your commitment to shaping what comes next.

Want to enter the circle ?
[Speakers]
They don't write about design leadership. They practice it.
Heads of Design, VP Designs, and Chief Design Officers — sharing what the books don't cover.

Julie Kennedy
Design Leader & Speaker
PokerStars
|


Inayaili León
Director Design Operations
Github
|


Andrey Sundiev
Design Director
DevRev
|


Ray Ho
VP of Product & Design
Back Market
|


Romain Sechan
Director of Product Design
Mirakl
|


Thiago Cavalet
UX Design Manager
Tesco
|


Arome-sinh Phanphengdy
Head of Lodges
Designshot
|


Robbie Davies
Group Head of UX & Design
Deltatre
|


Axel Johnston
Head of Design
Designshot
|


Angelina Severino
Group Design and UX Lead
Lebara
|

[Agenda]
London
JUNE 11-12, 2026
June 11th
9:30 - 9:45
Welcome to Solstice
Axel Johnston | Designshot
9:45 - 10:00
Signals & Symbols : the watches feedback
Arome-sinh Phanphengdy | Designshot
10:00 - 11:00
How design engineering is changing the role of Design
Inayaili León | Github
11:15 - 12:00
The Ai-native culture transformation
Andrey Sundiev | DevRev
12:00 - 12:45
The Design Codex
Workshop
14:15 - 15:30
Are designers the glass ceiling of design?
Ray Ho | Back Market
15:30 - 16:15
Scaling Claude Code for DesignOrgs
Romain Sechan | Mirakl
16:30 - 17:15
Team initiatives that really improve design maturity
Thiago Cavalet | Tesco
17:15 - 18:00
The role of design in becoming the leading Sports & Video Entertainment company
Robbie Davies | Deltatre
19:30 - 23:30
Cocktail and dinner
The Mayor Of Scaredy Cat Town
June 12th
9:30 - 10:00
Breakfast
10:00 - 11:00
You Don’t Need Design Data: Why Measuring Everything is Killing Innovation
Angelina Severino | Lebara
11:00 - 11:30
The Prompt Syndicate: how AI tools are shaping the world
Axel Johnston | Designshot
11:45 - 12:30
From screens to systems: How design influences organisations
Julie Kennedy | PokerStars
12:30 - 12:45
Closing remarks
Enter the circle
[Pricing]
No pitches. No performances. Only experience.
London Solstice
JUNE 11 - 12
£249
VAT Excluded

Enjoy the core Solstice experience
Two days of talks and visionary keynotes
Exclusive London event diner the 11th
Hands-on workshops with Europe's top design leaders
Only 25 seats
[Testimonials]
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
[2 days In London]
The Solstice
A closed-door conference where signals become projections defining the future of design leadership in Europe.
Visionary talks
Intimate talks led by design leaders, focused on real challenges, lived experiences, and what matter now.
Practical workshops
Roll up your sleeves in interactive sessions focused on real-world tools and strategies.
Purposeful networking
Connect with peers who share your questions, your challenges, and your commitment to shaping what comes next.

Want to enter the circle ?
[Speakers]
They don't write about design leadership. They practice it.
Heads of Design, VP Designs, and Chief Design Officers — sharing what the books don't cover.

Julie Kennedy
Design Leader & Speaker
PokerStars
|


Inayaili León
Director Design Operations
Github
|


Andrey Sundiev
Design Director
DevRev
|


Ray Ho
VP of Product & Design
Back Market
|


Romain Sechan
Director of Product Design
Mirakl
|


Thiago Cavalet
UX Design Manager
Tesco
|


Arome-sinh Phanphengdy
Head of Lodges
Designshot
|


Robbie Davies
Group Head of UX & Design
Deltatre
|


Axel Johnston
Head of Design
Designshot
|


Angelina Severino
Group Design and UX Lead
Lebara
|

[Agenda]
London
JUNE 11-12, 2026
June 11th
9:30 - 9:45
Welcome to Solstice
Axel Johnston | Designshot
9:45 - 10:00
Signals & Symbols : the watches feedback
Arome-sinh Phanphengdy | Designshot
10:00 - 11:00
How design engineering is changing the role of Design
Inayaili León | Github
11:15 - 12:00
The Ai-native culture transformation
Andrey Sundiev | DevRev
12:00 - 12:45
The Design Codex
Workshop
14:15 - 15:30
Are designers the glass ceiling of design?
Ray Ho | Back Market
15:30 - 16:15
Scaling Claude Code for DesignOrgs
Romain Sechan | Mirakl
16:30 - 17:15
Team initiatives that really improve design maturity
Thiago Cavalet | Tesco
17:15 - 18:00
The role of design in becoming the leading Sports & Video Entertainment company
Robbie Davies | Deltatre
19:30 - 23:30
Cocktail and dinner
The Mayor Of Scaredy Cat Town
June 12th
9:30 - 10:00
Breakfast
10:00 - 11:00
You Don’t Need Design Data: Why Measuring Everything is Killing Innovation
Angelina Severino | Lebara
11:00 - 11:30
The Prompt Syndicate: how AI tools are shaping the world
Axel Johnston | Designshot
11:45 - 12:30
From screens to systems: How design influences organisations
Julie Kennedy | PokerStars
12:30 - 12:45
Closing remarks
Enter the circle
[Pricing]
No pitches. No performances. Only experience.
London Solstice
JUNE 11 - 12
£249
VAT Excluded

Enjoy the core Solstice experience
Two days of talks and visionary keynotes
Exclusive London event diner the 11th
Hands-on workshops with Europe's top design leaders
Only 25 seats
[Testimonials]
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
[2 days In London]
The Solstice
A closed-door conference where signals become projections defining the future of design leadership in Europe.
Visionary talks
Intimate talks led by design leaders, focused on real challenges, lived experiences, and what matter now.
Practical workshops
Roll up your sleeves in interactive sessions focused on real-world tools and strategies.
Purposeful networking
Connect with peers who share your questions, your challenges, and your commitment to shaping what comes next.

Want to enter the circle ?
[Speakers]
They don't write about design leadership. They practice it.
Heads of Design, VP Designs, and Chief Design Officers — sharing what the books don't cover.

Julie Kennedy
Design Leader & Speaker
PokerStars
|


Inayaili León
Director Design Operations
Github
|


Andrey Sundiev
Design Director
DevRev
|


Ray Ho
VP of Product & Design
Back Market
|


Romain Sechan
Director of Product Design
Mirakl
|


Thiago Cavalet
UX Design Manager
Tesco
|


Arome-sinh Phanphengdy
Head of Lodges
Designshot
|


Robbie Davies
Group Head of UX & Design
Deltatre
|


Axel Johnston
Head of Design
Designshot
|


Angelina Severino
Group Design and UX Lead
Lebara
|

[Agenda]
London
JUNE 11-12, 2026
June 11th
9:30 - 9:45
Welcome to Solstice
Axel Johnston | Designshot
9:45 - 10:00
Signals & Symbols : the watches feedback
Arome-sinh Phanphengdy | Designshot
10:00 - 11:00
How design engineering is changing the role of Design
Inayaili León | Github
11:15 - 12:00
The Ai-native culture transformation
Andrey Sundiev | DevRev
12:00 - 12:45
The Design Codex
Workshop
14:15 - 15:30
Are designers the glass ceiling of design?
Ray Ho | Back Market
15:30 - 16:15
Scaling Claude Code for DesignOrgs
Romain Sechan | Mirakl
16:30 - 17:15
Team initiatives that really improve design maturity
Thiago Cavalet | Tesco
17:15 - 18:00
The role of design in becoming the leading Sports & Video Entertainment company
Robbie Davies | Deltatre
19:30 - 23:30
Cocktail and dinner
The Mayor Of Scaredy Cat Town
June 12th
9:30 - 10:00
Breakfast
10:00 - 11:00
You Don’t Need Design Data: Why Measuring Everything is Killing Innovation
Angelina Severino | Lebara
11:00 - 11:30
The Prompt Syndicate: how AI tools are shaping the world
Axel Johnston | Designshot
11:45 - 12:30
From screens to systems: How design influences organisations
Julie Kennedy | PokerStars
12:30 - 12:45
Closing remarks
Enter the circle
[Pricing]
No pitches. No performances. Only experience.
London Solstice
JUNE 11 - 12
£249
VAT Excluded

Enjoy the core Solstice experience
Two days of talks and visionary keynotes
Exclusive London event diner the 11th
Hands-on workshops with Europe's top design leaders
Only 25 seats
[Testimonials]
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
[2 days In London]
The Solstice
A closed-door conference where signals become projections defining the future of design leadership in Europe.
Visionary talks
Intimate talks led by design leaders, focused on real challenges, lived experiences, and what matter now.
Practical workshops
Roll up your sleeves in interactive sessions focused on real-world tools and strategies.
Purposeful networking
Connect with peers who share your questions, your challenges, and your commitment to shaping what comes next.

Want to enter the circle ?
[Speakers]
They don't write about design leadership. They practice it.
Heads of Design, VP Designs, and Chief Design Officers — sharing what the books don't cover.

Julie Kennedy
Design Leader & Speaker
PokerStars
|


Inayaili León
Director Design Operations
Github
|


Andrey Sundiev
Design Director
DevRev
|


Ray Ho
VP of Product & Design
Back Market
|


Romain Sechan
Director of Product Design
Mirakl
|


Thiago Cavalet
UX Design Manager
Tesco
|


Arome-sinh Phanphengdy
Head of Lodges
Designshot
|


Robbie Davies
Group Head of UX & Design
Deltatre
|


Axel Johnston
Head of Design
Designshot
|


Angelina Severino
Group Design and UX Lead
Lebara
|

[Agenda]
London
JUNE 11-12, 2026
June 11th
9:30 - 9:45
Welcome to Solstice
Axel Johnston | Designshot
9:45 - 10:00
Signals & Symbols : the watches feedback
Arome-sinh Phanphengdy | Designshot
10:00 - 11:00
How design engineering is changing the role of Design
Inayaili León | Github
11:15 - 12:00
The Ai-native culture transformation
Andrey Sundiev | DevRev
12:00 - 12:45
The Design Codex
Workshop
14:15 - 15:30
Are designers the glass ceiling of design?
Ray Ho | Back Market
15:30 - 16:15
Scaling Claude Code for DesignOrgs
Romain Sechan | Mirakl
16:30 - 17:15
Team initiatives that really improve design maturity
Thiago Cavalet | Tesco
17:15 - 18:00
The role of design in becoming the leading Sports & Video Entertainment company
Robbie Davies | Deltatre
19:30 - 23:30
Cocktail and dinner
The Mayor Of Scaredy Cat Town
June 12th
9:30 - 10:00
Breakfast
10:00 - 11:00
You Don’t Need Design Data: Why Measuring Everything is Killing Innovation
Angelina Severino | Lebara
11:00 - 11:30
The Prompt Syndicate: how AI tools are shaping the world
Axel Johnston | Designshot
11:45 - 12:30
From screens to systems: How design influences organisations
Julie Kennedy | PokerStars
12:30 - 12:45
Closing remarks
Enter the circle
[Pricing]
No pitches. No performances. Only experience.
London Solstice
JUNE 11 - 12
£249
VAT Excluded

Enjoy the core Solstice experience
Two days of talks and visionary keynotes
Exclusive London event diner the 11th
Hands-on workshops with Europe's top design leaders
Only 25 seats
[Testimonials]
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
[Secure your seat]
Apply now
Solstice is curated, not open. We review every application to ensure the room stays what it's meant to be : a gathering of design leaders, by design leaders.
Solstice is curated, not open.
We review every application to ensure the room stays what it's meant to be : a gathering of design leaders, by design leaders.
[01. Apply]
Fill in the application form. We go through every profile individually.
[02. Review]
If we have questions, we'll reach out for a short conversation.
[03. Confirm your seat]
If your profile is a match, you'll receive a secure Stripe payment link.
FAQ
If the answers you seek remain hidden, reach out to the Society directly.

Arom Phanphengdy
Head of Sales
Who is Solstice for?
Design leaders — Heads of Design, VP Designs, CDOs, and founders building a design function. If you're responsible for the direction of design in your organisation, you're in the right place.
How is Solstice different from a regular design conference?
Twenty-five people. No expo floor. No sponsor slots. The programme is built around real leadership challenges, not trends. The room is small enough that everyone is part of the conversation.
What are The Watches?
The Watches are a series of invitation-only dinners in Amsterdam, Paris, and Geneva — held in the weeks before Solstice. Each dinner brings together a small group of design leaders around a single theme. You can attend one, several, or none — Solstice stands on its own.
How do I get a seat?
Seats are limited to 25. Once they're gone, they're gone — no waitlist, no second batch. Secure yours before the countdown runs out.
Will the sessions be recorded?
They won't. What happens in the room, stays in the room. That's part of what makes the conversation honest.
Who exactly is a "design leader"?
nyone responsible for the quality, direction, or growth of a design practice. That includes Heads of Design, Design Managers, Design Directors, VP Designs, CDOs — whether you're in a product organisation, an in-house team, or building a design function from scratch. If design sits on your shoulders, you belong in the room.
What about invoices and taxes?
Payment is handled securely through Stripe. Taxes are calculated automatically at checkout based on your location. Your invoice is generated and sent immediately after payment.
June 11-12
feat.

London
¬O–= 3
¬3
3
[The Watches x Solstice]
A New Chapter for Design Leadership is Unfolding.
It begins with whispers scattered across three cities, uncovered in quiet gatherings.
It culminates in Barcelona, where the brightest minds in design leadership gather to decode, align, and map what’s next.
Amsterdam
Where the journey begins : raw ideas, early signals, and the kind of honesty that only comes over a good dinner.
Paris
The conversation deepens, patterns emerge, tensions surface, and the picture starts to take shape.
Geneva
The last dinner before London where clarity replaces noise, and instinct becomes conviction.
London
Two days. Twenty-five leaders. One shared direction for design leadership in Europe.
What You Take Back from
The Watches & The Solstice
Connecting with Europe’s top design leaders
The kind of conversations that don't happen at conferences, and don't disappear after them either.
Thinking bigger with hands-on workshops
Sessions built to challenge how you think, not confirm what you already know. Walk in with questions. Leave with better ones.
Shaping the future of design leadership
Beyond trends and talking points, a space to confront real leadership challenges, and leave with a direction that's actually yours.
Choose your entry point.
Three intimate dinners across Europe. Two days in London. One or all — the Society welcomes you either way.
[2 days In London]
The Solstice
A closed-door conference where signals become projections defining the future of design leadership in Europe.
Visionary talks
Intimate talks led by design leaders, focused on real challenges, lived experiences, and what matter now.
Practical workshops
Roll up your sleeves in interactive sessions focused on real-world tools and strategies.
Purposeful networking
Connect with peers who share your questions, your challenges, and your commitment to shaping what comes next.

Want to enter the circle ?
[Speakers]
They don't write about design leadership. They practice it.
Heads of Design, VP Designs, and Chief Design Officers — sharing what the books don't cover.

Julie Kennedy
Design Leader & Speaker
PokerStars
|


Inayaili León
Director Design Operations
Github
|


Andrey Sundiev
Design Director
DevRev
|


Ray Ho
VP of Product & Design
Back Market
|


Romain Sechan
Director of Product Design
Mirakl
|


Thiago Cavalet
UX Design Manager
Tesco
|


Arome-sinh Phanphengdy
Head of Lodges
Designshot
|


Robbie Davies
Group Head of UX & Design
Deltatre
|


Axel Johnston
Head of Design
Designshot
|


Angelina Severino
Group Design and UX Lead
Lebara
|

[Agenda]
London
JUNE 11-12, 2026
June 11th
9:30 - 9:45
Welcome to Solstice
Axel Johnston | Designshot
9:45 - 10:00
Signals & Symbols : the watches feedback
Arome-sinh Phanphengdy | Designshot
10:00 - 11:00
How design engineering is changing the role of Design
Inayaili León | Github
11:15 - 12:00
The Ai-native culture transformation
Andrey Sundiev | DevRev
12:00 - 12:45
The Design Codex
Workshop
14:15 - 15:30
Are designers the glass ceiling of design?
Ray Ho | Back Market
15:30 - 16:15
Scaling Claude Code for DesignOrgs
Romain Sechan | Mirakl
16:30 - 17:15
Team initiatives that really improve design maturity
Thiago Cavalet | Tesco
17:15 - 18:00
The role of design in becoming the leading Sports & Video Entertainment company
Robbie Davies | Deltatre
19:30 - 23:30
Cocktail and dinner
The Mayor Of Scaredy Cat Town
June 12th
9:30 - 10:00
Breakfast
10:00 - 11:00
You Don’t Need Design Data: Why Measuring Everything is Killing Innovation
Angelina Severino | Lebara
11:00 - 11:30
The Prompt Syndicate: how AI tools are shaping the world
Axel Johnston | Designshot
11:45 - 12:30
From screens to systems: How design influences organisations
Julie Kennedy | PokerStars
12:30 - 12:45
Closing remarks
Enter the circle
[Pricing]
No pitches. No performances. Only experience.
London Solstice
JUNE 11 - 12
£249
VAT Excluded

Enjoy the core Solstice experience
Two days of talks and visionary keynotes
Exclusive London event diner the 11th
Hands-on workshops with Europe's top design leaders
Only 25 seats
[Testimonials]
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
[2 days In London]
The Solstice
A closed-door conference where signals become projections defining the future of design leadership in Europe.
Visionary talks
Intimate talks led by design leaders, focused on real challenges, lived experiences, and what matter now.
Practical workshops
Roll up your sleeves in interactive sessions focused on real-world tools and strategies.
Purposeful networking
Connect with peers who share your questions, your challenges, and your commitment to shaping what comes next.

Want to enter the circle ?
[Speakers]
They don't write about design leadership. They practice it.
Heads of Design, VP Designs, and Chief Design Officers — sharing what the books don't cover.

Julie Kennedy
Design Leader & Speaker
PokerStars
|


Inayaili León
Director Design Operations
Github
|


Andrey Sundiev
Design Director
DevRev
|


Ray Ho
VP of Product & Design
Back Market
|


Romain Sechan
Director of Product Design
Mirakl
|


Thiago Cavalet
UX Design Manager
Tesco
|


Arome-sinh Phanphengdy
Head of Lodges
Designshot
|


Robbie Davies
Group Head of UX & Design
Deltatre
|


Axel Johnston
Head of Design
Designshot
|


Angelina Severino
Group Design and UX Lead
Lebara
|

[Agenda]
London
JUNE 11-12, 2026
June 11th
9:30 - 9:45
Welcome to Solstice
Axel Johnston | Designshot
9:45 - 10:00
Signals & Symbols : the watches feedback
Arome-sinh Phanphengdy | Designshot
10:00 - 11:00
How design engineering is changing the role of Design
Inayaili León | Github
11:15 - 12:00
The Ai-native culture transformation
Andrey Sundiev | DevRev
12:00 - 12:45
The Design Codex
Workshop
14:15 - 15:30
Are designers the glass ceiling of design?
Ray Ho | Back Market
15:30 - 16:15
Scaling Claude Code for DesignOrgs
Romain Sechan | Mirakl
16:30 - 17:15
Team initiatives that really improve design maturity
Thiago Cavalet | Tesco
17:15 - 18:00
The role of design in becoming the leading Sports & Video Entertainment company
Robbie Davies | Deltatre
19:30 - 23:30
Cocktail and dinner
The Mayor Of Scaredy Cat Town
June 12th
9:30 - 10:00
Breakfast
10:00 - 11:00
You Don’t Need Design Data: Why Measuring Everything is Killing Innovation
Angelina Severino | Lebara
11:00 - 11:30
The Prompt Syndicate: how AI tools are shaping the world
Axel Johnston | Designshot
11:45 - 12:30
From screens to systems: How design influences organisations
Julie Kennedy | PokerStars
12:30 - 12:45
Closing remarks
Enter the circle
[Pricing]
No pitches. No performances. Only experience.
London Solstice
JUNE 11 - 12
£249
VAT Excluded

Enjoy the core Solstice experience
Two days of talks and visionary keynotes
Exclusive London event diner the 11th
Hands-on workshops with Europe's top design leaders
Only 25 seats
[Testimonials]
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
[2 days In London]
The Solstice
A closed-door conference where signals become projections defining the future of design leadership in Europe.
Visionary talks
Intimate talks led by design leaders, focused on real challenges, lived experiences, and what matter now.
Practical workshops
Roll up your sleeves in interactive sessions focused on real-world tools and strategies.
Purposeful networking
Connect with peers who share your questions, your challenges, and your commitment to shaping what comes next.

Want to enter the circle ?
[Speakers]
They don't write about design leadership. They practice it.
Heads of Design, VP Designs, and Chief Design Officers — sharing what the books don't cover.

Julie Kennedy
Design Leader & Speaker
PokerStars
|


Inayaili León
Director Design Operations
Github
|


Andrey Sundiev
Design Director
DevRev
|


Ray Ho
VP of Product & Design
Back Market
|


Romain Sechan
Director of Product Design
Mirakl
|


Thiago Cavalet
UX Design Manager
Tesco
|


Arome-sinh Phanphengdy
Head of Lodges
Designshot
|


Robbie Davies
Group Head of UX & Design
Deltatre
|


Axel Johnston
Head of Design
Designshot
|


Angelina Severino
Group Design and UX Lead
Lebara
|

[Agenda]
London
JUNE 11-12, 2026
June 11th
9:30 - 9:45
Welcome to Solstice
Axel Johnston | Designshot
9:45 - 10:00
Signals & Symbols : the watches feedback
Arome-sinh Phanphengdy | Designshot
10:00 - 11:00
How design engineering is changing the role of Design
Inayaili León | Github
11:15 - 12:00
The Ai-native culture transformation
Andrey Sundiev | DevRev
12:00 - 12:45
The Design Codex
Workshop
14:15 - 15:30
Are designers the glass ceiling of design?
Ray Ho | Back Market
15:30 - 16:15
Scaling Claude Code for DesignOrgs
Romain Sechan | Mirakl
16:30 - 17:15
Team initiatives that really improve design maturity
Thiago Cavalet | Tesco
17:15 - 18:00
The role of design in becoming the leading Sports & Video Entertainment company
Robbie Davies | Deltatre
19:30 - 23:30
Cocktail and dinner
The Mayor Of Scaredy Cat Town
June 12th
9:30 - 10:00
Breakfast
10:00 - 11:00
You Don’t Need Design Data: Why Measuring Everything is Killing Innovation
Angelina Severino | Lebara
11:00 - 11:30
The Prompt Syndicate: how AI tools are shaping the world
Axel Johnston | Designshot
11:45 - 12:30
From screens to systems: How design influences organisations
Julie Kennedy | PokerStars
12:30 - 12:45
Closing remarks
Enter the circle
[Pricing]
No pitches. No performances. Only experience.
London Solstice
JUNE 11 - 12
£249
VAT Excluded

Enjoy the core Solstice experience
Two days of talks and visionary keynotes
Exclusive London event diner the 11th
Hands-on workshops with Europe's top design leaders
Only 25 seats
[Testimonials]
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
[2 days In London]
The Solstice
A closed-door conference where signals become projections defining the future of design leadership in Europe.
Visionary talks
Intimate talks led by design leaders, focused on real challenges, lived experiences, and what matter now.
Practical workshops
Roll up your sleeves in interactive sessions focused on real-world tools and strategies.
Purposeful networking
Connect with peers who share your questions, your challenges, and your commitment to shaping what comes next.

Want to enter the circle ?
[Speakers]
They don't write about design leadership. They practice it.
Heads of Design, VP Designs, and Chief Design Officers — sharing what the books don't cover.

Julie Kennedy
Design Leader & Speaker
PokerStars
|


Inayaili León
Director Design Operations
Github
|


Andrey Sundiev
Design Director
DevRev
|


Ray Ho
VP of Product & Design
Back Market
|


Romain Sechan
Director of Product Design
Mirakl
|


Thiago Cavalet
UX Design Manager
Tesco
|


Arome-sinh Phanphengdy
Head of Lodges
Designshot
|


Robbie Davies
Group Head of UX & Design
Deltatre
|


Axel Johnston
Head of Design
Designshot
|


Angelina Severino
Group Design and UX Lead
Lebara
|

[Agenda]
London
JUNE 11-12, 2026
June 11th
9:30 - 9:45
Welcome to Solstice
Axel Johnston | Designshot
9:45 - 10:00
Signals & Symbols : the watches feedback
Arome-sinh Phanphengdy | Designshot
10:00 - 11:00
How design engineering is changing the role of Design
Inayaili León | Github
11:15 - 12:00
The Ai-native culture transformation
Andrey Sundiev | DevRev
12:00 - 12:45
The Design Codex
Workshop
14:15 - 15:30
Are designers the glass ceiling of design?
Ray Ho | Back Market
15:30 - 16:15
Scaling Claude Code for DesignOrgs
Romain Sechan | Mirakl
16:30 - 17:15
Team initiatives that really improve design maturity
Thiago Cavalet | Tesco
17:15 - 18:00
The role of design in becoming the leading Sports & Video Entertainment company
Robbie Davies | Deltatre
19:30 - 23:30
Cocktail and dinner
The Mayor Of Scaredy Cat Town
June 12th
9:30 - 10:00
Breakfast
10:00 - 11:00
You Don’t Need Design Data: Why Measuring Everything is Killing Innovation
Angelina Severino | Lebara
11:00 - 11:30
The Prompt Syndicate: how AI tools are shaping the world
Axel Johnston | Designshot
11:45 - 12:30
From screens to systems: How design influences organisations
Julie Kennedy | PokerStars
12:30 - 12:45
Closing remarks
Enter the circle
[Pricing]
No pitches. No performances. Only experience.
London Solstice
JUNE 11 - 12
£249
VAT Excluded

Enjoy the core Solstice experience
Two days of talks and visionary keynotes
Exclusive London event diner the 11th
Hands-on workshops with Europe's top design leaders
Only 25 seats
[Testimonials]
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
"Great dinner ! It really was a refreshing event!"
Jean Baptiste Kaloya
VP, Product Design & Research | Bpifrance
"Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch and looking forward to meeting some of you in Barcelona."
Desislava Genova
Product Design Leader | Bentley Systems
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. Thanks, Axel and JP See you all online!"
Alexander Zeh
Head Of Product Design | Manychat
"Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing Axel and JP!"
Tahirah Salomon
Head Of Design | Regionale Dagbladen Mediahuis
[Secure your seat]
Apply now
Solstice is curated, not open. We review every application to ensure the room stays what it's meant to be : a gathering of design leaders, by design leaders.
Solstice is curated, not open.
We review every application to ensure the room stays what it's meant to be : a gathering of design leaders, by design leaders.
[01. Apply]
Fill in the application form. We go through every profile individually.
[02. Review]
If we have questions, we'll reach out for a short conversation.
[03. Confirm your seat]
If your profile is a match, you'll receive a secure Stripe payment link.
FAQ
If the answers you seek remain hidden, reach out to the Society directly.

Arom Phanphengdy
Head of Sales
Who is Solstice for?
Design leaders — Heads of Design, VP Designs, CDOs, and founders building a design function. If you're responsible for the direction of design in your organisation, you're in the right place.
How is Solstice different from a regular design conference?
Twenty-five people. No expo floor. No sponsor slots. The programme is built around real leadership challenges, not trends. The room is small enough that everyone is part of the conversation.
What are The Watches?
The Watches are a series of invitation-only dinners in Amsterdam, Paris, and Geneva — held in the weeks before Solstice. Each dinner brings together a small group of design leaders around a single theme. You can attend one, several, or none — Solstice stands on its own.
How do I get a seat?
Seats are limited to 25. Once they're gone, they're gone — no waitlist, no second batch. Secure yours before the countdown runs out.
Will the sessions be recorded?
They won't. What happens in the room, stays in the room. That's part of what makes the conversation honest.
Who exactly is a "design leader"?
nyone responsible for the quality, direction, or growth of a design practice. That includes Heads of Design, Design Managers, Design Directors, VP Designs, CDOs — whether you're in a product organisation, an in-house team, or building a design function from scratch. If design sits on your shoulders, you belong in the room.
What about invoices and taxes?
Payment is handled securely through Stripe. Taxes are calculated automatically at checkout based on your location. Your invoice is generated and sent immediately after payment.
