2026 PHXDW Conference: Orbit

Phoenix Design Week is a weeklong celebration of design, organized by AIGA Arizona, to unite our state's design community and provide a forum for sharing best practices, showcasing exceptional work, and gaining inspiration.

The PHXDW Conference is the main event during Phoenix Design Week — a two-day industry conference for graphic designers, UI/UX designers, content managers, illustrators, writers, marketing professionals, and people who work with them. For 2026, we're celebrating this 18th annual PHXDW at Phoenix Convention Center for two full days of creative jumpstarts, workshops, and friendship. With a theme of "Orbit" we invite designers, thinkers, and collaborators to enter one another's circles and celebrate the relationships, conversations, intersections, and creative forces that surround the work and give it meaning. Each of us follows our own path, yet together we create a larger field of connection, energy, and possibility. Together, we create gravity by design.

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Two full days of inspirational main stage keynotes and hands-on breakouts.

Last year, you told us that you preferred a Friday and Saturday schedule, so we're bringing it back for 2026: the two-day conference will be held on Friday, October 23, and Saturday, October 24. Here's who we have signed on for the main stage, see the full schedule in the AGENDA section!

& – the team from BlinkUX behind the reimagined NASA.gov

- entertainment attorney and partner at Counsel for Creators will talk about copyright protections in the age of AI

- designer, illustrator, and teacher, and the creator of SUNday SUNS that you've probably been following for years (that's how long we've been trying to coordinate schedules to get him to Phoenix)

- principal and thingmaker at Invisible Creature, formerly from Seattle and now based in Phoenix

- partner/director and stop motion filmmaker coming to us from Apartment D in Los Angeles

- in-house creative director for Arizona's largest credit union Desert Financial

- chief creative officer at Rule29 and author of Being Humankind.

Stay tuned for more to come! Updates will come to you on social media (follow #phxdw) and directly via email, so be sure you're on the mailing list to get the latest! Continuing conference announcements for attendees will be sent via Eventbrite confirmation emails.

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The two-day PHXDW Conference pass includes:

• Access to all main stage keynote talks and educational breakout sessions presented by national and local design leaders
• Two full days of programming, on both Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24.
• Admission to a post-conference reception (TBD) after day one of the conference on Friday, October 23
• Admission to the Phoenix Design Week Closing Party on Friday, October 30
• Free gift poster
• Can't make it both days? One-day passes for either Friday, October 23 or Saturday, October 24 are now available.

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REGISTER NOW

Hey, we know times are uncertain right now, so we've rolled back pricing to 2018 rates as long as you get on board by 10/19 – late registration kicks in on 10/20!

• AIGA Members: $299 (will be $349 on 10/20)
• Affiliate Members/Nonprofits: $349 (will be $399 on 10/20)
• Non-Members: $399 (will be $449 on 10/20)
• Student/Faculty AIGA Members: $179 (will be $199 on 10/20)
• Student/Faculty Non-Members: $249 (will be $299 on 10/20)
• One-Day Passes: $249 good for either Friday 10/23 or Saturday 10/24
• Groups of 5 or more from the same organization: check the box on the order form and receive a 15% rebate during this pricing window.
• Preorder an official PHXDW Orbit t-shirt for only $15 (will be $20 on site)

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WHAT'S FOR LUNCH?

Lunch is on your own each day, with many downtown restaurants within walking distance. We also offer a catered Lunchbox for $35 on each day of the conference. Preorder now and we’ll have your lunchbox ready so you can meet new friends, attend one of two Lunch 'n' Learn breakouts and join impromptu roundtables. After you choose your registration (member, non-member, student, etc.) SCROLL DOWN to the ADD-ONs section of the order form. Menu selections will be announced in October (dietary modifications available). Please note that the Convention Center does not allow outside food on the premises.

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Please note that all other standalone Phoenix Design Week offsite events from October 23-30, 2026 are NOT included in the conference registration.

AIGA members save up to $100 over non-member pricing, waived transaction fees, and some secret bonuses at the conference especially for members, too. Be ready to enter your AIGA membership number and current year expiration date on the order form to qualify.

Learn more about membership options and join at http://www.aiga.org/join/, then return to this site and enter your AIGA member number and expiration date to qualify for Member registration. AIGA memberships are issued by the national AIGA organization, are portable to any chapter across the US, and can be billed quarterly. Want someone to walk you through it? Contact us locally at [email protected].

• Affiliate discounts offered to members of our sister professional organizations (AAF PHX, AZIMA, AMA, and PRSA).
• Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) designation may also choose the Affiliate discount level (have your organization's EIN ready to enter on the order form)
• Students and teachers receive up to half off, and waived transaction fees; choose Student/Faculty option.
• Group Rebates: Five or more qualified attendees from the same organization; check the "We're a Group" box on the order form at the end of your transaction, and subsequently receive a rebate of 10% back on your on Advance (July 20-Sept 18) or 15% Full price (September 19-October 23) order, refunded back to your original method of payment. Does not apply to already discounted Early Bird, Student/Faculty, One-Day, or other special offers.
• One-Day Options: Can't make it both days of the conference? One-day and individual workshop registration may be available in September after the Early Bird and other promotion windows end.
• Support PHXDW with a sponsorship that includes conference passes (see section below)

A conference of this caliber at such reasonable prices simply would not be possible without the generous monetary and in-kind contributions of our sponsors — dedicated companies and individuals who want to demonstrate their commitment to Arizona's design community by standing behind Phoenix Design Week. Packages that include benefits such as sponsor passes, promotions, and exhibition spaces are available starting at the $250 tier. If you or your company would be interested in having your name, products, or services highlighted to the Phoenix Design Week audience, please email [email protected] for more information. Thank you!

Enable a deserving student to attend PHXDW 2026 so they can experience what it means to participate in their greater design community. Add-on student sponsorships are only $150 and cover the attendance cost for students currently enrolled at a college or university in a design-related field. As a student sponsor, you can choose one (or more!) student(s) from those who apply for scholarship, or have AIGA AZ select a student for you. Your contact information will be shared with the student, or you may remain anonymous. Click RESERVE A SPOT then SCROLL DOWN to the ADD-ON section of the order form to choose this option. Students interested in applying for sponsorship, watch for submission announcements.

Location and Transportation

This year, the conference will be held in the SOUTH building of the Phoenix Convention Center. In the heart of downtown Phoenix within walking distance of hotels, entertainment and restaurants, the center has a dedicated stop on the METRO Light Rail line, and is about fifteen minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Paid parking is available in the convention center garage and at other facilities within walking distance. Reserve in advance, see rates and other options here.

Lodging Information

We have arranged with the nearby Moxy Phoenix for a discounted rate of $174/night good for Thursday, October 23, Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25. Hurry, there are a limited number of rooms available at this rate and reservations must be made by September 22. .

Dining Options

Lunch breaks will be 1.5 hours, allowing you enough time to visit one of the many downtown restaurants within walking distance. See above section for preordered Lunchbox option.

Cancellation and Refund Options

• Transfer 100% of your registration to another person by notifying us no later than Thursday, October 22, 2026. Your request must include your name and email address as well as that of the person who will be attending in your place. If you have registered as an AIGA member, your substitute attendee must also be an AIGA member; additional higher price may apply for non-members.
• Request a 100% credit to be applied toward next year’s conference by notifying us no later than Thursday, October 22, 2026. If you are holding a credit or transfer from a past year, please contact [email protected].
• Cancel and request a partial refund of your registration during these timeframes: 80% through July 19 / 65% through August 31 / 40% through October 18 / 0% thereafter.
• If AIGA Arizona, the venue, or world events cause us to cancel the event altogether, we will issue refunds on all registrations less any nonrefundable fees or costs out of the control of AIGA Arizona.

Speakers and Schedule

While we make every effort to confirm our speakers' participation prior to the event, we cannot guarantee that the published speaker list or schedule will be exactly as presented online. Speakers and schedule are subject to change without notice.

Land Acknowledgement

AIGA Arizona acknowledges that this event is being held on the land of the Ancestral Sonoran Desert People, stewarded today by the Akimel O’odham (Pima), Tohono O’odham, as well as the Pee Posh (Maricopa), who are the indigenous peoples of this land. We acknowledge the sovereignty of all Native Nations within the state of Arizona, and recognize our responsibility to honor Indigenous People, their culture, and their legacy as thriving contemporary communities by advocating for inclusive and diverse practices for all design-related institutions.

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WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND AIGA AZ EVENTS?

• You may learn some stuff
• You’ll definitely meet some cool people
• We like to give away freebies
• Networking can help further your career, no matter where you are on that journey
• It’s how you learn about volunteer opportunities—from joining the board to mentorship
• It means supporting us, which means supporting our creative community so we can bring you bigger and better programs all year long

GOTTA HAVE FINE PRINT

• Speakers’ presentations and viewpoints are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of AIGA Arizona. We are not responsible for the content of every presentation; please be aware that adult language, visuals or topics may sometimes be included.
• Your registration constitutes permission to use photos, audio, and video recording taken of you at the event for promotional and educational purposes in connection with AIGA Arizona, and places you on the master mailing list.
• AIGA Arizona follow the AIGA Code of Conduct. We reserve the right to refuse admittance for violations of this Code, or other unlawful or disruptive actions. Any concerns should be addressed to the AIGA Arizona president.
• Phoenix Design Week is a non-profit event , wholly owned and presented by AIGA Arizona, a 501(c)(3) organization.

Info: Pick up your badge and tote in the lobby and get ready to launch!

Info: Over the past few years, Blink UX has collaborated with teams across NASA to reimagine their digital ecosystem. The result: a bold new web experience and the Horizon Design System, built to tell NASA’s most important stories with clarity, conviction, and craft. In this session, Ben and Megan pull back the curtain on designing with rocket scientists, sharing how vision meets velocity in a high-stakes collaboration. Expect real talk on aligning stakeholders, designing for scale, and building a system that helps humanity understand the universe.

Info: AI is rapidly reshaping the creative landscape, raising new questions about ownership, authorship, and protection. This session will provide a practical overview of copyright law, including the bundle of exclusive rights and the importance of registration, examine how AI companies are currently using creative works, review recent legal developments, and discuss what they mean for designers. We'll close with practical strategies creatives can use to protect their work and adapt their businesses as AI continues to transform the creative economy.

Info: Choose from one of four sessions in topic tracks: 1. Warp Speed (Software & Tools), 2. Mission Control (Business & Career), 3. Space Craft (Creativity & Craft), 4. Life Support (Culture, Community & Communication)

Info: This session is fully interactive — bring your laptop! Attendees will build alongside me in real time, following my creative direction process for developing a month of social media graphics using Firefly Boards. We'll move through moodboarding, color, typography, iconography, and backgrounds, applying each stage to your own project as we go. Rather than just seeing a polished final result, you'll see the real decisions and reasoning behind the process. By the end, you'll walk away with a repeatable framework for building consistent, on-brand visual content — plus a head start on your own month of social graphics. (NOTE: WiFi may not be available, be prepared to use your own cell service/ personal hotspot)

Info: Finding your footing in a creative career is unpredictable, personal and riddled with detours and dead ends. Creatives can underestimate the value and impact of their skills as makers and problem-solvers. By harnessing these abilities, designers become empowered to create their own opportunities and drive change in areas they're passionate about. Creatives can underestimate the value and impact of their skills as makers and problem-solvers. By harnessing these abilities, designers become empowered to create their own opportunities and drive change in areas they're passionate about. If they position themselves as their own client, anything is possible.

Info: Great design doesn’t live in isolation. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll explore how to take one event or message and turn it into a connected content campaign that captures attention, communicates clearly, and inspires action. Using real-world examples from event promotion, entertainment, small business, and community marketing, we’ll map the “orbit” around a central idea and identify what each piece of content needs to accomplish. You’ll leave with a practical, repeatable framework for creating cohesive campaigns—whether you’re designing for a client, a brand, or yourself. Come ready to think beyond the post, get creative, and build something you can actually use.

Info: Learn how to navigate the evolving landscape of marketing and designing for science. From academia, government, non-profit, and the commercial sector, Shireen has worked on teams that have led science communication to new eras. Join this session to hear about methods you can use to explain complex topics to public audiences and how to find science communication opportunities within your networks.

Info: Walk to one of the many nearby restaurants in the area for lunch on your own, or pick up your preordered lunchbox and join one of the Lunch 'N' Learn sessions described below. (See "add-on's" section of order form to preorder a catered lunchbox.) You may sit in on the Lunch 'N' Learn session without ordering a lunchbox, but please note that the convention center does not allow outside meals to be brought into the venue.

Info: AI is quickly becoming part of every designer's orbit, but the real opportunity isn't better prompts. It's building a system where people, knowledge, and AI work together to amplify creativity. In this interactive workshop with Johnny Guerra, Design Innovations Manager at Veritiv, attendees will learn practical ways to use AI as a research partner, thinking partner, and communication tool while keeping human creativity at the center. Through live demonstrations and hands-on exercises, participants will map their own creative orbit, identify opportunities to work smarter, and leave with a repeatable framework they can immediately apply to design projects, innovation efforts, and everyday creative work.

Info: Whether you’re writing your résumé or preparing for an interview, compelling accomplishment stories are what capture the attention of recruiters and hiring managers. In this practical session, you’ll learn how to turn your experience into concise, persuasive case studies using the CAR and CART frameworks. We’ll explain what these acronyms mean and show you how to identify the challenge, highlight the actions you took, and communicate your results with impact. Candidates who share strong accomplishment stories are more likely to stand out, secure interviews, and get hired because they differentiate themselves from other applicants and provide credible evidence that past performance can predict future success. You’ll leave with a repeatable formula for strengthening your résumé and preparing memorable interview stories that clearly demonstrate the value you bring.

Info: Choose from one of four sessions in topic tracks: Warp Speed (Software & Tools), Mission Control (Business & Career), Space Craft (Creativity & Craft), Life Support (Culture, Community & Communication) - details to be announced

Info: Are you struggling to get creative, unique, and on-brand work out of AI? Hate AI because it lacks that human creative view? Good news: you're just doing it wrong. Here is the exciting part, we can fix that. We'll cover • writing robust prompts for success • challenging AI to stop being a yes machine • building your personal systems that make AI a tool that accelerates your work.

Info: Where will you find your next client? They might be closer in your orbit than you think. In this hands-on session, I'll show you where to find clients, how to build the kind of gravity that brings the right people to you, how to close the right ones without pressure, and how growing your own confidence makes all of it easier. I'll share what's worked for me from my first freelance project in 2011 to the past five years of running my branding studio full-time. Then you'll map your own constellation, draft a real message, and make first contact with at least one person before you leave.

Info: Discover how Photoshop and Illustrator can work together to transform a simple collection of images, type, textures, and vector elements into original album artwork. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll build a square album cover while exploring selections, masks, adjustment layers, Smart Objects, typography, and creative compositing. Work from a supplied asset kit, make your own design decisions, and see how other creatives interpret the same brief. You’ll leave with a finished cover, a repeatable workflow, and practical techniques you can use in future design projects.

Info: Most people don't lack talent; they lack permission. This workshop will unpack the invisible layers of self-sabotage that become habits: the identity traps, the perfectionism loops, and the negative message (from oneself and a slew of others) that get stuck in our brains only to concretize into the damaging beliefs that keep brilliant people playing small. In this session I will offer simple steps and solutions to reframing and reclaiming creative authority.

Info: In space, no one can hear you scream. Especially when it’s three in the morning, and you have a deadline! This behind-the-mission look at PHXDW: Orbit explores how the brand was shaped by a constellation of conversations, constraints, collaborators, accidents, intersections, and ideas pulled into and out of its orbit.

Info: Being HumanKind grew out of a question I find myself asking more as I evolve in my career: With all the things we are busy doing, building, achieving, and chasing, who are we becoming? The book explores 29 ways of being, including kindness, gratitude, curiosity, courage, vulnerability, creativity, presence, and connection. These are not 29 things I have mastered. They are 29 things I am still trying to practice. BONUS: Justin will be signing copies of his book at the Orbit Reception.

Info: In this honest walk through Tad Carpenter's studio’s creative process, Tad shares how his childhood wandering of Hallmark's hallways sparked a lifelong love affair with playful, purposeful design. You'll get an intimate look at how he and his wife and creative partner, Jessica, transform their curiosity and wonder into award-winning brand systems that capture hearts and turn heads. Part behind-the-scenes studio tour, part inspiration rally, this presentation delivers honest insights wrapped in warmth and wit.

Info: Everyone up to the main stage to capture one of the now-famous PHXDW group photos!

Info: Take a break, check your messages, shop the Popups and sponsor booths, and stroll the Get Out the Vote poster display while we set up for the Orbit Reception.

Info: Join us after Day One of the PHXDW Conference for a reception with the keynote speakers, book signing with Justin Ahrens, and a special PHXDW edition of everyone's favorite Drink-N-Draw PHX activities. Browse the AIGA Get Out The Vote poster exhibition, enjoy some snacks and a cash bar. Free for all conference attendees with badge, separate standalone paid registration will be offered for outside attendees in October.

Info: The medium of stop motion animation is singular in how many different disciplines and skills it takes to create. Because of its physical nature, it relies on not just art and design, but also material science and engineering. It is a medium that can only be made with human hands. This presentation examines the hands, minds and skills it takes to create a stop motion animated film by examining Paper Daughter, a short film that uses the medium of stop motion animation to tell the story of Chinese immigration to the US in the 1920s.

Info: In-house creative has the unique opportunity to know a brand from the inside out – and turn that proximity into creative excellence. Leading creative from inside a brand means balancing creativity, strategy, relationships and business goals everyday. I'll share my perspective on leading and empowering a multidisciplinary creative team to push beyond execution and elevating work, partnering with stakeholders across multiple lines of business, and using creative strategy as a foundation for brand and creative excellence.

Info: Choose from one of four sessions in topic tracks: 1. Warp Speed (Software & Tools), 2. Mission Control (Business & Career), 3. Space Craft (Creativity & Craft), 4. Life Support (Culture, Community & Communication)

Info: When you work on a lean design team, you don't just design. You format, edit, translate, and put out fires. Without account managers shielding you, designers often end up acting as human compilers, stuck making low-level edits instead of focusing on high-level craft.

What if you built your own digital support team using AI as junior interns?

In this live-demo workshop, Jess Gerlach shares a modular workflow developed out of necessity at the University of Arizona CALES. You'll see how to pair conversational LLMs like Claude or Gemini for copy, Adobe Firefly for imagery, and Adobe Express to build brand-safe assets in 15 minutes. Reclaim your time, brief AI effectively, and step firmly into the role of Mission Controller.

Info: We spend our days designing brands, products, and experiences for everyone else. But how often do we use that creativity to design something for ourselves? In this workshop, you will create a visual map of your creative ecosystem, identify opportunities already within your reach, and design small experiments that generate real momentum. As you do this, you will share ideas with other designers, form new connections, and find inspiration to develop a creative career that is dynamic, resilient, and all your own.

Info: Danny, Eric, and Michelle orbit the topic of nature through different lenses. In short talks, three practitioners share their own paths back to nature: how awe, curiosity, and close attention become sources of inspiration, creativity, and calm. Each speaker brings a different lens, shaped by years of reconnecting to the natural world through observation, sketching, and mindful noticing. Together, we explore what it means to slow down, destress, and rediscover wonder, and consider what we owe back for what we notice: through gratitude, gift, or creative offering.

Info: Creative work doesn’t happen in isolation. Our careers are shaped by an entire orbit of collaborators, managers, clients, communities, tools, expectations, and relationships. Some help us do our best work. Others quietly drain the energy we need to keep creating. In this interactive Thriving Creatively workshop, attendees will map their own creative orbit to better understand the people, systems, and relationships influencing their energy and ability to thrive. Through guided reflection and a hands-on mapping exercise, participants will identify the forces that support them, the ones that deplete them, and the areas where their creative ecosystem may be out of balance.

Info: Walk to one of the many nearby restaurants in the area for lunch on your own, or pick up your preordered lunchbox and join Chuong Bui's Lunch 'N' Learn session described below. (See "add-on's" section of order form to preorder a catered lunchbox.) You may sit in on the Lunch 'N' Learn session without ordering a lunchbox, but please note that the convention center does not allow outside meals to be brought into the venue.

Info: Building a creative business takes more than great ideas and great work—it also requires a strong foundation. In this practical workshop, keynote speaker Chuong Bui of Counsel for Creators will unpack four essential legal pillars every creative business owner should understand. Whether you’re starting out or already established, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of the legal considerations that can help protect your creative practice and support its growth.

Info: Choose from one of four sessions in topic tracks: 1. Warp Speed (Software & Tools), 2. Mission Control (Business & Career), 3. Space Craft (Creativity & Craft), 4. Life Support (Culture, Community & Communication)

Info: Curious about web design but don’t have a development background? This beginner-friendly session introduces Framer, a visual website builder that allows designers to bring their ideas from concept to live site. We’ll cover the fundamentals of designing in Framer, including layout, responsive design, interactions, and publishing, along with practical tips for creating polished, functional websites. Whether you’re a UX designer, visual designer, or creative looking to expand your skill set, you’ll leave with a better understanding of Framer and the confidence to start building for the web.

Info: Your work deserves more than a mockup and a “new project” caption. This session will show graphic designers how to turn their work, process, and point of view into content people actually want to see. You’ll leave with fresh inspiration, a practical playbook for getting your work noticed, and approachable ways to use social media to make industry connections, build relationships, and create new opportunities.

Info: Most packaging designs begin with a supplied dieline, but what do you do if you get the chance to make your own? In this hands-on workshop, participants will build and test their own custom package structure using chipboard and tape, then translate that physical prototype into a (hopefully!) accurate Adobe Illustrator dieline. You’ll leave with a physical prototype, a digital dieline, and a repeatable process for developing original packaging structures from scratch. Expect to cut, fold, tape, measure, troubleshoot, and make a small mess. Laptops required for the digital part.

Info: Through captivating stories and experiences, Wade will ignite excitement and curiosity with attendees to help them find a renewed sense of purpose and passion. He will teach the audience tactical tools and skills to take into their own lives to build more play, purpose, and passion with their own individual frameworks. * Teams will walk away with tools to reignite creativity
* Develop a play-driven mindset that leads to innovative storytelling and brand building
* Learn simple key habits that anyone can master, which lead to higher productivity and a renewed sense of motivation.

Event venue & nearby stays

Phoenix Convention Center South, 33 S 3rd St, Phoenix, United States

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