Leading Design London

Two days at the Barbican for people who lead design teams rather than people who want another craft workshop. Registration from 09:00 on 11 November, with day two opening at 10:00; both days end with a long social slot from 17:00. Optional workshops run on 13 November, 09:30 to 12:30.

The programme is built around design leadership itself — organisational structure, influence, and running teams — with Rebecca Groves hosting and talks from Liz Danzico, Dan Makoski, Kevin Bethune, Michelle Lee, Rich Rutter, Marla Mitelman and Kwame Nyanning, plus lunchtime conversation sessions with Morgane Peng, Chris How, Ben Sheppard and Aleks Melnikova.

Paid; prices are on the ticket page rather than the programme page.

Why go: one of the few UK conferences aimed squarely at design directors and heads of design, and the two-hour evening slots are where the actual peer conversations happen. Best for design leaders and anyone about to become one.