Our commitment

Design & Talk is a festival for people who care about design, and it only works when everyone feels welcome. We are committed to an experience free of harassment and discrimination for all attendees, speakers, volunteers, sponsors and staff, whatever their background, identity, ability or career stage.

Who this applies to

This code applies to every space linked to the festival: the venue, workshops, evening events, partner venues, the website, the official social media channels and any private message sent as part of the festival.

What we expect

Be kind and curious. Listen before you answer. Respect people’s names, pronouns and boundaries. Ask before taking someone’s photo. Give room to quieter voices, and credit other people’s ideas. Look after the shared spaces and follow the instructions of the team.

What is not acceptable

We do not tolerate harassment, intimidation, discriminatory jokes or comments, sexual attention that is not welcome, stalking, following, unwanted physical contact, sustained disruption of sessions, or sharing private information about someone without consent. Sexual or violent images are not appropriate in talks, slides or stands.

Speakers, partners and volunteers

Speakers, partners and volunteers are held to the same standards. Presentations should avoid content that excludes or demeans people. Partner stands and activities must not target attendees with unwanted promotion or pressure.

Photography and consent

Ask before photographing or recording someone, and stop if they say no. Coloured lanyards at the welcome desk let you show your photo preferences. Do not share images of other attendees without their agreement.

Reporting a concern

If you experience or see behaviour that breaks this code, tell any member of the team wearing a festival badge, visit the welcome desk, or write to hello@designandtalk.com. You can report anonymously, and you can ask for someone to accompany you. We will listen, take notes and treat every report with discretion.

What happens next

The organisers will review each report quickly and fairly. Depending on the situation, we may issue a warning, ask a person to stop or to leave the venue without refund, remove their pass, or contact the authorities. We will let the person who made the report know what we decided.

Changes to this code

We may update this code as the festival evolves. The date at the top of this page shows the latest version. Thank you for helping us keep Design & Talk a place where people enjoy learning from each other.