India’s First Global Annual Conclave for Design Education
India’s First Global Annual Conclave for Design Education
Design education is at a crossroads. The world has changed, most curricula haven’t.
Our Partners
– About the Conclave
“Not simply a conference – a strategic dialogue platform designed to influence how design is taught, practised and embedded in society.”
What Is DEDU
DEDU – the Design Education Conclave – is the world’s first dedicated platform for advancing design education globally. It creates structured spaces for knowledge exchange, critical debate, research dissemination, and strategic partnership between educators, practitioners, and policymakers.
Mission
To convene the global design education community and catalyse systemic change in how design is taught, researched and applied – across disciplines, geographies and institutional contexts.
Vision
A world where design education is dynamic, inclusive, and deeply connected to the social, technological, and environmental challenges of our time.
– The Urgent Problem
“Not simply a conference – a strategic dialogue platform designed to influence how design is taught, practised and embedded in society.”
Curricula lag behind reality
AI, parametric design, sustainable systems – these demand entirely new pedagogical frameworks. Most institutions haven’t caught up.
Institutions innovate in isolation
There is almost no structured cross-dialogue between academia, industry, and policy. Educators innovate alone rather than together.
The skills gap keeps widening
What graduates can do and what employers need are diverging fast – threatening the relevance of design degrees worldwide.
Research stays locked in journals
Cutting-edge design research rarely reaches the classroom or the boardroom. Knowledge dissemination pathways are broken.
– What We Stand For
Four principles that shape every decision we make.”
Boundary-Breaking
The most transformative ideas emerge at the intersections of disciplines, cultures, and perspectives. DEDU exists at those crossroads.
Pedagogical Innovation
We champion new models of teaching and learning that respond to the complexities of AI, sustainability, and a connected world.
Inclusivity of Voices
Geographic, cultural, and generational diversity isn’t a nice-to-have – it’s the foundation. Every perspective is heard and valued equally.
Social Responsibility
Design education must actively address societal challenges and contribute to the common good. We hold this as non-negotiable.
– The Conclave Program
Built for exchange, not broadcast. For action, not applause.
Visionary Keynotes
Global thought leaders in design education delivering provocative, forward-looking perspectives on pedagogy, technology and culture.
Critical Panel Discussions
Structured debates tackling the hardest questions – AI in design studios, decolonising curricula, industry relevance, and sustainability integration.
Knowledge Exchange Sessions
Peer-to-peer workshops where faculty share classroom innovations, assessment strategies, and tools that actually work in practice.
PhD Research Spotlight
Selected doctoral researchers deliver TED-style presentations with live feedback from an international panel of expert mentors.
Action-Oriented Workshops
Hands-on sessions producing tangible outputs – curriculum prototypes, framework drafts, collaborative policy roadmaps, and partnership blueprints.
Strategic Networking
Curated connection formats – not random mixers – designed to forge lasting partnerships between institutions, studios and industry.
– Who Should Be There
Everyone who shapes what the next generation of designers learns.
Academic Leadership
Deans, directors, and heads of design schools driving institutional strategy, curriculum reform and global positioning.
Design Faculty
Studio educators and theorists shaping the next generation through innovative teaching, mentoring and research supervision.
PhD & Postdoctoral Researchers
Emerging scholars pushing the boundaries of design knowledge, methodology and interdisciplinary inquiry.
Industry Practitioners
Design leaders from studios, agencies and corporations who know what graduates need – and what they’re missing.
Policymakers & Regulators
Government voices shaping education policy, accreditation standards, funding allocation and national design strategy.
Institutional Administrators
Admissions, marketing, and operations leaders responsible for institutional growth, positioning and sustainability.
– 2-Day Access Passes
Participation categories & inclusions for DEDU Conclave 2026.
Delegate Pass
₹20,000/-
100 Seats Availability
Inclusions
-
Full session access
Networking sessions
VIP Pass
₹60,000/-
20 Seats Availability
Inclusions
-
Preferential seating
Full session access
2-night stay included
Priority Networking
Presenter Pass
₹80,000/-
10 Seats (only one from one institution)
Inclusions
-
Present at the conclave (TED style),
10 minutes
Preferential seating
Full session access
2-night stay included
Priority Networking
– The PhD Network Track
A global stage for emerging research voices.
The PhD Network Track is DEDU’s dedicated platform for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers to present their work to an international audience of peers, mentors, and industry leaders.
Every presentation is professionally recorded and published to the DEDU YouTube Research Library – creating a permanent, searchable, open-access archive of cutting-edge design research from around the world.
“Ideas that evolve through dialogue, not just publication.”
Step 01
Submit your research abstract via open call
Step 02
Selected researchers present TED-style (20 min) at DEDU Goa
Step 03
Receive live feedback from a global panel of expert mentors
Step 04
Presentation recorded & published to the DEDU YouTube Research Library
– Expected Outcomes
Not just inspiration. Tangible outputs that outlast the event.
Published Research Archive
A permanent, open-access YouTube library of PhD presentations and keynote insights – accessible to educators worldwide.
Curriculum Innovation Frameworks
Collaboratively developed templates and prototypes that institutions can adapt to modernise their programmes immediately.
Global Partnership Network
Formalised institutional partnerships, faculty exchanges and joint research agreements born from structured networking.
Policy White Papers
Actionable recommendations for policymakers on accreditation reform, funding models and national design strategy.
Annual Knowledge Reports
Post-conclave synthesis documents capturing key insights, debates and emerging trends in global design education.
DEDU Alumni Community
A continuing network of educators, researchers and leaders who sustain the dialogue year-round between editions.
– Long-Term Vision
Where DEDU is headed.
- Become the world’s most authoritative annual gathering on design education
- Build a permanent, open-access knowledge base for design pedagogy
- Drive measurable curriculum reform across participating institutions
- Influence national and international education policy
- Create an enduring global network of design education leadership
– Partner With DEDU
Shape the future of design education alongside us.
Global Design Schools & Universities
Co-create knowledge, share faculty, and position your institution at the forefront of global design education reform.
Technology Companies
Showcase tools shaping the future of design practice and connect directly with the educators adopting them.
Design-Led Corporations
Bridge the gap between industry needs and institutional output through strategic sponsorship and mentorship.
Government & Policy Institutions
Influence education frameworks, fund research, and drive national design capability at the policy level.
– The Venue
Goa, India
Goa was chosen for its unique intersection of creative energy and accessible hospitality. A coastal city with a rich cultural heritage, international connectivity, and a growing reputation as a hub for creative communities – making it the ideal setting for a conclave built on cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration.
– Sponsorship Opportunities
Align your brand with the future of design education.
DEDU offers tiered sponsorship packages designed to maximise your impact, visibility, and engagement with a global community of design educators and industry leaders.
Title Sponsor
Maximum visibility as the headline partner of India’s first global design education conclave.
- Prime logo placement across all collateral
- Exclusive keynote or panel slot
- VIP access for 10 delegates
- Full-page feature in event publication
Co-Sponsor
Strategic partnership with prominent branding and curated engagement opportunities.
- Logo on all digital and print materials
- Branded breakout session
- VIP access for 5 delegates
- Social media campaign integration
Session Sponsor
Own a specific track or session and connect with a targeted audience of educators and leaders.
- Named session or workshop
- On-stage acknowledgement
- VIP access for 3 delegates
- Post-event content feature
Support Sponsor
Be part of the movement with meaningful brand presence and delegate access.
- Logo on event website and backdrop
- 2 delegate passes
- Mention in press communications
- Networking lounge access
– Join Edition 01
Be part of the conversation that reshapes design education.
Register your interest for DEDU Goa 2026. We’ll keep you updated on speakers, programme details and early-access registration.