A time-layered approach to innovation
An innovation conference at the intersection of UX, AI, Design, and Research
Bringing together leaders and practitioners to reflect, realize, and shape what’s next.
Call for Speakers!
Join Nivan in Chicago for a transformative conference on AI and design leadership.
Unlock Innovation on May 21, 2026
Join us in Chicago for unparalleled insights at the forefront of AI and design leadership innovation.
About Nivan
Reflect on the past Realize the present Reimagine the future
Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It is shaped by what came before, constrained by today’s realities, and driven by what we choose to design next. NIVAN is built around a time-layered approach to innovation. We create space to reflect on past decisions and patterns, examine the present tools and systems shaping our work, and thoughtfully reimagine the future of human-centered innovation. This is not about moving through time for novelty. It’s about learning with intention, designing with context, and aligning creativity, technology, and purpose to build what truly matters. At NIVAN, time becomes a lens, not a destination. A way to connect what was, what is, and what can be and to design tomorrow with clarity today. You can think of it as time travel for innovators grounded in real practice, reflection, and responsibility.
Elevating Across Time
How reflection, reality, and imagination shape meaningful innovation.
Past: Where Ideas Took Shape
Innovation builds on what came before.
The past offers principles, patterns, and lessons that continue to influence how we design, research, and lead today.
At NIVAN, the past is not nostalgia. It’s a source of insight reminding us that lasting innovation begins with curiosity, intention, and human understanding.
Present: Where Innovation Lives
Today is where ideas are tested, shaped, and scaled.
NIVAN’s present-focused sessions explore how UX, AI, design, and research converge in real work. Through talks, discussions, and hands-on experiences, participants examine the tools, systems, and decisions shaping innovation right now.
This is where reflection meets action.
Future: Where Possibilities Emerge
The future is not something we wait for. It’s something we design.
NIVAN looks ahead to explore what’s next for human-centered innovation. From emerging technologies to evolving leadership models, this is where imagination, intelligence, and intent come together to shape what’s possible.