AU 2026: Come for the sessions. Stay for the community.
At AU 2026, every part of the event helps you connect with the people, ideas, and experiences shaping the future of Design and Make. From spontaneous hallway catchups to structured networking experiences, AU is where ideas take shape, partnerships begin, and lasting professional communities are built. Great sessions may bring you to AU, but it is the people you meet and the conversations you have that make the experience unforgettable.
Find your people
The Design and Make community are incredibly diverse, but chances are you’ll find someone tackling the same challenges you are. Meetups offer casual gatherings organized around industries, emerging technologies, and shared interests, making it easy to connect with people who speak your language. Whether you’re looking to exchange ideas with peers or simply expand your network, Meetups create space for authentic conversations that continue long after the event.
Turn conversations into collaboration
Some of the most valuable learning at AU happens when attendees set the agenda.
Braindate returns to AU 2026 as a way for attendees to create or join small group discussions centered on the topics they care about most. Share expertise, solve real-world challenges together, ask questions, or meet peers who are just as passionate about Design and Make as you are.
No presentations. No panels. Just meaningful conversations driven by the community.
The perfect spot to be
New this year, The Exchange is a dedicated gathering space designed for the moments between sessions. Settle into a comfortable space to recharge, catch up with colleagues, meet new peers, or explore the topics and insights that sparked your curiosity.
It’s the perfect place to transform a quick introduction into a meaningful professional relationship.
A new way to network
What if networking felt less like making small talk and more like solving problems together?
Also new for AU 2026, the AU Clubhouse offers an immersive environment where attendees interact through challenges, fun activities, and team trivia. The aim is to build engagement naturally while bringing together people with different perspectives and experiences.
Because the best connections often happen when you are building something together.
More than a conference
The best takeaway from AU isn’t always something you learn in a session. Sometimes it’s the person you meet, the perspective that changes how you think, or the interaction that sparks your next big idea. Register by August 3 to lock in early bird pricing and join us in Las Vegas.
