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Peter Merholz, Consultant & Author, Humanism at Scale

DLS 2026 / Workshop · Day 1

Leading Design Through Shifting Times

With Peter Merholz · Consultant & Author, Humanism at Scale

A hands-on half day for design leaders navigating pressure, new tools, and teams anxious about their careers.

When
Tue, Nov 17 · 12:30–4:30 PM
Where
BrainStation, 482 Front St W, 2nd floor · Map ↗
Room
20–25 people · design leaders, managers, and senior designers
Access
All-access pass, or a separate workshop ticket
Get the summit pass Peter’s speaker page

Why Peter

Over 25 years leading design.

  • Co-founded Adaptive Path, acquired by Capital One in 2014
  • Led design at Groupon, OpenTable, Capital One, and Kaiser Permanente
  • Co-wrote Org Design for Design Orgs and co-hosts Finding Our Way
  • Advises design orgs at JP Morgan Chase, The New York Times, Roblox, and Target
Peter Merholz presenting beside a screen titled “What’s Yours?”, mapping today’s agenda against an audacious oneDesign leaders seated around joined tables as an attendee shares her experience with the roomAn attendee makes a point to the group while two others listen and take notes
His DLS 2025 workshop, back for 2026.

The afternoon

Five blocks, one working room.

Practical exercises, short presentations, and discussion with peers.

  1. 01

    Shift your leadership perspective

    The change in stance design leaders need to guide a team through new expectations, pressure, and uncertainty.

    You leave with A leadership approach that fits the moment

  2. 02

    Work today’s leadership imperatives

    In small groups, build practical tactics for six challenges:

    • Demonstrate value without waiting for permission
    • Build capability in others
    • Secure Design’s standing in the organization
    • Lead your team through the churn
    • Widen the legibility aperture
    • Maintain equanimity in the face of turbulence

    You leave with Tactics for proving value and backing your team

  3. 03

    Evolve as a design leader

    How the role changes as you move up, and where your time and energy should go now.

    You leave with Clarity on where to focus next

  4. 04

    Set and uphold design quality

    Peter’s framework for defining quality as AI changes how work gets made — and how to push back before poor work ships.

    You leave with A framework for design quality

  5. 05

    Lead design in the age of AI

    Specific practices for the challenges and openings AI creates for design leaders.

    You leave with Practices to take straight back to your team

BrainStation and Konrad sign at 482 Front Street West, with the CN Tower behind

Day 1 · Tue, Nov 17 · 12:30–4:30 PM

BrainStation, Toronto.

482 Front St W, 2nd floor — a short walk from TIFF Bell Lightbox, where the summit opens that evening. Summit registration opens at 4 PM.

Get the summit pass