International Design Day (IDD) 2026, observed annually on April 27, stands as one of the most significant global gatherings for the design community. This year, the Society for Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD) proudly serves as the host organization in collaboration with the International Council of Design (ICoD). Under the compelling theme “The Spaces In Between,” the day invites designers, educators, organizations, and communities worldwide to reflect on design’s profound role in shaping human connections across physical, digital, and emotional realms.
Understanding International Design Day: Origins and Evolution
International Design Day traces its roots to 1995, when ICoD established it to celebrate the power and impact of design on a global scale. Originally known in some contexts as World Design Day, it evolved into International Design Day to emphasize its borderless, inclusive nature. Each year, the event highlights design not merely as a profession or commercial tool, but as a cultural, ethical, and social practice that influences how societies function, communicate, and evolve.
Over the decades, IDD has grown into a multifaceted platform featuring local events, educational programs, exhibitions, workshops, and digital conversations. It serves as a moment for the international design community to pause, reflect, and advocate for design’s broader societal contributions. Past themes have addressed sustainability, equity, innovation, and cultural heritage. In 2026, with SEGD at the helm, the focus sharpens on the often-overlooked “in-between” moments that define human experience.
SEGD, a leading professional organization dedicated to experiential graphic design (EGD), brings deep expertise to this hosting role. SEGD members specialize in creating environments, wayfinding systems, branded spaces, exhibitions, and digital interfaces that enhance how people navigate and interact with the world. Hosting IDD2026 aligns perfectly with SEGD’s mission to advance design that connects people to places, ideas, and each other.
The Theme: “The Spaces In Between” – What Happens Between Us Matters
The official 2026 theme, “The Spaces In Between,” challenges designers to look beyond finished objects, sleek interfaces, or monumental structures. Instead, it directs attention to the thresholds, transitions, pauses, and relational moments where genuine connection occurs.
Design mediates the physical, digital, and emotional spaces where human interaction unfolds. It shapes how we feel welcomed or excluded, how trust builds (or erodes), and how meaning emerges in everyday encounters. As articulated in official materials: “Design lives in the in-between, the thresholds where ideas become experiences and strangers become communities.”
This theme resonates deeply in today’s context. Amid rapid digital acceleration, urban density, social polarization, and post-pandemic reflections on belonging, designers are called to prioritize quality of connection over mere efficiency. The spaces in between include:- Physical thresholds: Entrances, pathways, waiting areas, public plazas.
- Digital interfaces: Loading screens, navigation flows, virtual meeting transitions.
- Emotional intervals: Moments of uncertainty, first impressions, shared discovery.
By focusing here, the theme encourages a more humane, empathetic, and responsible design practice. It asks: Who feels included? How does design build trust? What invisible forces shape our shared experiences?
The visual identity for IDD2026, created by London-based Holmes Studio (led by founder Lucy Holmes, an SEGD board member), beautifully embodies this idea. Using vibrant, layered bracket graphics that suggest openness, connection, and fluidity, the identity is flexible and adaptable for global participation. Holmes Studio’s work—known for exhibitions at the British Museum and beyond—translates the theme into a dynamic, human-centered system.
The Global Conversations: Eleven (or More) Insightful Sessions
At the heart of IDD2026 is a full day of free, globally streamed conversations hosted by SEGD CEO Cybelle Jones. These sessions, broadcast live on SEGD’s YouTube channel and LinkedIn, feature leading voices from architecture, branding, cultural institutions, interior design, and experiential fields. Spanning multiple time zones for maximum accessibility, the lineup explores the theme from diverse perspectives.
Full Schedule (All Times ET – April 27, 2026):
- 6:00 AM — The Global Context: Why International Design Day Matters Melike Taşçıoğlu Vaughan (President, ICoD), Jonas Liugaila (ICoD Board Member, Studio Airport), Jacques Lange (Immediate Past President, ICoD).
- 7:30 AM — The Theme Made Visible Lucy Holmes (Founder & Creative Director, Holmes Studio).
- 9:00 AM — Imagination, Hope, and the Possibility of Design Ashley Lukasik (Founder & CEO, Murmur Ring), Sue Walsh (Principal of Design, SYPartners).
- 10:30 AM — Architecture, Community, and What We Build Together Carole Wedge, FAIA (Executive Vice President & CEO, AIA).
- 12:00 PM — Design at Historic Scale Aki Carpenter (Vice President & Chief Creative Officer, RAA Global Studios; SEGD Board President).
- 1:30 PM — The Philosophy of Experience David Schwarz (Co-Founder & Creative Director, HUSH).
- 3:00 PM — Equity, Community, and the Stakes of Design Nu Goteh (Founder, Room for Magic; Co-Founder, Deem Journal).
- 4:30 PM — Belonging, Learning, and Radical Empathy Lee-Sean Huang (Co-Executive Director of Learning & Programs, AIGA).
- 6:00 PM — The Spaces We Inhabit Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA (Executive Vice President & CEO, IIDA).
- 7:30 PM — Legacy, Curiosity, and What Endures Llisa Demetrios (Chief Curator, Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity).
- 9:00 PM — The Space Between a Brand and a Human Being Joanne Chan (Chief Executive Officer, Turner Duckworth; SEGD Board Member).
These dialogues promise rich insights, blending personal stories, professional case studies, and forward-looking ideas. All sessions are free and open to the public—simply subscribe to SEGD’s YouTube for notifications.
Chapter Activations and Local Events Worldwide
Beyond the central broadcasts, SEGD chapters and partner organizations host in-person and hybrid events that bring the theme to life locally. These activations demonstrate the theme’s versatility across contexts.
Examples include:
- Raleigh Chapter (April 23): Experiential Graphics at Dollar Shave Club.
- Boston Chapter (April 27): “EGD – Careers that bridge the spaces between us.”
- Salt Lake City Chapter (April 27): International Design Day Charrette.
- Riga Chapter (April 27): Dedicated workshop.
- Vancouver Chapter (April 27): “Where Digital Meets Human.”
- Chicago Chapter (April 29): Celebrating Chicago Design.
- Minneapolis Chapter (April 29): Mosaic Workshop.
- Cincinnati Chapter (April 30): “Illuminating the In-Between – Design Lab.”
- Detroit Chapter (April 30): Dr. Ossian Sweet Memorial Park activation.
- New York Chapter (April 30): Sound Design and the Built Environment.
- Seattle Chapter (April 30): “Ride the Link.”
- And many more in Charlotte, Denver, Richmond, and beyond.
These events range from workshops and tours to design labs and site-specific installations, allowing communities to interpret “The Spaces In Between” in ways that matter locally.
Broader Significance: Design as a Practice of Connection
In an era of digital overload and social fragmentation, “The Spaces In Between” reminds us that design’s highest calling is relational. Experiential graphic designers, in particular, excel at creating environments that foster belonging—whether through intuitive wayfinding in airports, immersive museum exhibitions, branded retail experiences, or public installations.
The theme aligns with growing movements in inclusive design, neurodiversity-aware spaces, sustainable placemaking, and technology that enhances rather than replaces human interaction. It challenges practitioners to ask deeper questions about equity, empathy, and long-term impact.
For students and emerging designers, IDD2026 offers inspiration and networking opportunities. For established professionals, it provides a moment to recalibrate priorities. For organizations like AIA, IIDA, AIGA, and ICoD, it strengthens cross-disciplinary collaboration.
How to Participate and Make the Most of IDD2026
- Watch the Conversations — Tune in live or catch recordings on SEGD’s YouTube.
- Join or Host a Local Event — Check the SEGD chapter listings or organize your own discussion.
- Download the Toolkit — Available resources help with posters, social templates, and activity ideas.
- Share Reflections — Use hashtags #InternationalDesignDay #IDD2026 #TheSpacesInBetween on social media.
- Apply the Theme — Reflect on your own work: Where are the “in-between” moments you can improve?
SEGD and ICoD encourage broad participation—from formal symposia to informal social media shares. The goal is collective reflection and action.
Looking Ahead: Legacy and Future Impact
International Design Day 2026 will likely be remembered as a pivotal moment when the global design community collectively reaffirmed its commitment to human-centered practice. By centering connection, it sets a tone for future discussions on AI ethics, climate-responsive design, and post-digital experiences.
As Cybelle Jones and collaborators note, design is not just what we make—it’s what happens between us. In the spaces in between, we find our shared humanity.
Mark your calendar for April 27, 2026. Whether you join virtually from a studio in New York, attend a workshop in Riga, or simply pause to consider the thresholds in your daily environment, your participation contributes to a more connected world.
For the latest updates, full speaker bios, event registrations, and toolkits, visit the official page: https://segd.org/events/international-design-day-2026/. Subscribe to SEGD channels and follow #IDD2026 for real-time engagement.
