The day ends. The ideas don't.
Every talk from Nivan 2026, free and on demand.
Keynote
Back to the Future: Where Eras Converge
The systems we inherit shape the systems we build. From legacy data to future-scale decisions, this session connects history, judgment, and direction into one continuous arc.
Nick Allen
Keynote Speaker
Former Head of Design, Fidelity Investments
Reflect on the Past
Learning from what shaped us.Scale vs. Craft
Debating whether expansion strengthens or dilutes meaningful design.
Noel Childs
SVP Group Experience Design Director, Digitas
vs.
David Kazaryan
Senior Product Design Manager, United Airlines
The Tools That Shaped Us
The essential approaches innovators rely on to navigate complexity and create change.
Bob Nesbitt
Former Director of Portfolio Strategy, AbbVie
Former Director of Advanced Development, Eli Lilly and Company
Patterns That Refuse to Disappear
Rapid perspectives on defining decisions that reshaped the field.
Linnea Hagen
Consumer Insights Manager, Netflix
Realize the Present
Designing and building in today’s reality.Lightning Talk: The Present
The choices we make with AI today define what comes next across industries.
Gavin Lew
Managing Partner, Bold Insight
The Ecological, Relational, Emotional, and Cultural Lenses for AI Transformation
Exploring the future through 4 core lenses.
Suzanne Currie
Director of AI/UX Research, Geico
Human Judgment vs. AI Assistance
Examining where human intuition and machine intelligence intersect.
Bennett Hornbostel
Principal UX Researcher, Amazon
vs.
Varun Kapoor
Lead Product Designer, Microsoft
The "Bug Free" Workforce
How AI efficiency is subtly disrupting the interactions that build strong teams.
Casey Hudetz
Senior Product Design Manager, Docusign
Interactive Workshop
Identifying early signals within complexity and noise.
Tony Bynum
Associate Professor & Director, Institute of Design Executive Academy
Reimagine the Future
Shaping what comes next.The Future Won’t Design Itself
Why North Stars matter more than roadmaps.
Ben Shown
Head of Design, Blink UX
Designing the Next Chicago
Insights into the future of Chicago and its urban landscape.
Kyle Schulz
Deputy of Strategic Advancement, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)
Personalization vs. Privacy
Where should we draw the line between meaningful personalization and personal privacy?
Sarah Wallace
Customer Experience Strategist, Proprietary Insights
vs.
Eric Smallwood
Former Director of Design, Walmart
Lightning Talk: The Future
Progress is inevitable. Direction is not. What future are we choosing to create?
Matthew Alverson
Partner, IA Collaborative
Designing the AI Continuum
Fast-moving insights weaving trust and innovation into the patient journey.
Kevin Yuda
Senior Director, UX, GE Healthcare
Your Data Can’t See the Future: The Hidden Risk in Modern Product Decisions
How design leaders influence strategy long before outcomes are visible.
Ashley Craig
VP, Research & Product Strategy, AnswerLab