Membership

Good people.Great conversations.Real connections.

The most valuable part of Design Leaders is the people.

We bring together experienced leaders who are generous with their knowledge, curious about different perspectives and willing to contribute to something bigger than themselves.

Membership creates space for relationships to develop through honest conversations, practical learning and shared experiences.

The membership experience

01

An ongoing relationship, not a single event

The experience should feel personal. Members should feel known, supported and comfortable asking difficult questions and bringing ideas that are still taking shape.

  1. 01Be welcomedA personal welcome, so you know from the start how to meet relevant people and where to begin.
  2. 02Meet relevant peersThoughtful introductions to leaders carrying similar responsibilities, across organisations, industries and countries.
  3. 03Take partIn-person and virtual gatherings, from smaller peer conversations and practical sessions to local meet-ups.
  4. 04Contribute when usefulYour questions inform sessions and your experience feeds shared learning. There's no expectation to attend everything.
  5. 05Explore opportunities, by choiceRelevant roles, introductions, advisory work and collaborations. You choose what you explore.

Who it's for

02

Leaders with real responsibility and experience to share

A small group of design leaders in conversation by a window

Experienced digital and service design leaders, from Directors and Heads of Design through VPs, SVPs, EVPs and Chief Design Officers, alongside fractional and independent leaders at an equivalent level. You can join from anywhere: Design Leaders is a global community.

The central conversation concerns digital products, services, experiences, interaction, UX/UI, design systems, strategy and transformation. Adjacent disciplines are welcome where the work connects meaningfully to digital products, services or customer experience.

How we select

Membership is curated around scope, credibility and contribution, not title alone. We look at the scope of your role, what you could bring to other members and the recognition of your work.

Privacy and trust

03

Private by default. Visible by choice.

Membership is not a marketing asset. You choose whether, when and how you are identified publicly.

  1. 01Your name, role and companyNever used externally without your clear permission.
  2. 02Peer circles and small groupsNot recorded, and no AI note-takers unless every participant has agreed.
  3. 03Speaker eventsRecorded only when that's made clear in advance.
  4. 04Executive SearchA separate service, delivered through Futureproof. Joining never registers you as a candidate, and nothing is shared without your explicit permission.
A group of members smiling together at a Design Leaders event

Apply for membership

04

Find your people.

Founding membership opens at the end of November 2026. £360 a year, or £46 a month on a 12-month term, including our in-person and virtual events, programming, content and resources. Founding members are welcomed first and help shape the opening programme.

Corporate memberships are available for teams of five or more, paid annually.

Curation takes more than a senior title. We consider leadership responsibility, experience and judgement, the scope of the work, generosity and conduct.

  1. Step 1

    Apply

    Tell us about your leadership context and what you hope to give and get.

  2. Step 2

    Review

    A member of the team reviews every application personally.

  3. Step 3

    Welcome

    Accepted members receive founding-member details, join the member platform and are introduced to their first peers.

Start your application