December 3–4
feat.Tesco
Paris

[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 London, where the brightest minds in design leadership gather to decode, align, and map what's next.

The WatchMay 19th

Amsterdam

Where the journey begins : raw ideas, early signals, and the kind of honesty that only comes over a good dinner.

The WatchMay 28th

Paris

The conversation deepens, patterns emerge, tensions surface, and the picture starts to take shape.

The WatchJune 2nd

Geneva

The last dinner before London where clarity replaces noise, and instinct becomes conviction.

The SolsticeJune 11th – 12th

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.

[The Watches]

What to expect

[Three cities. Three dinners.] — A series of exclusive dinners across Europe, bringing together design leaders to uncover industry signals.

AmsterdamMay 27th

Meet other Design leaders living in Netherlands.

Only 10 seats ★ Exclusive to design leaders
ParisMay 28th

Meet other Design leaders living in France.

Only 10 seats ★ Exclusive to design leaders
GenevaJune 2nd

Meet other Design leaders living in Switzerland.

Only 10 seats ★ Exclusive to design leaders

[Testimonials]

Great dinner! It really was a refreshing event.

Jean Baptiste KaloyaVP, Product Design & ResearchBpifrance

Thanks everyone for the great evening and therapy session! It was lovely to meet you all. Hope we stay in touch.

Desislava GenovaProduct Design LeaderBentley Systems

It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all. See you all online!

Alexander ZehHead of Product DesignManychat

Great meet up with good conversations. Thank you for the invite and organizing!

Tahirah SalomonHead of DesignRegionale 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.

[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.

[Choose your journey]*

FAQ

If the answers you seek remain hidden, reach out to the Society directly.

Ask us →

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"?

Anyone 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.
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