The design industry is evolving across pricing, procurement, technology, and how firms are structured. Client expectations are shifting, costs are less predictable, and new tools are changing how work gets done. Many designers are asking a practical question: what should I be putting in place now to keep my business strong and manageable over the next few years?

19Hours: Preparing for the Next Wave is a virtual conference designed to answer that question through focused, peer-driven conversations. The emphasis is on real decisions designers are making today, how those decisions are playing out, and where there is still uncertainty.

Sessions are built around the areas where designers are actively evaluating their approach:

- How to structure pricing today to support consistent revenue tomorrow
- How procurement is changing in the AI era and how to maintain control and protect margins
- What a lean, right-sized design firm looks like in practice
- How specialized services like wellness, sustainability, and restoration can create additional revenue streams
- Which tools, systems, and financial habits are worth establishing early
- How to make informed decisions around hiring, outsourcing, and automation

The format is intentionally interactive. Many sessions begin with a short introduction and move into breakout discussions, where you can focus on the topic most relevant to your business and hear directly from industry experts and peers.

You will leave with a clearer understanding of your options, a set of practical ideas to test, and a stronger sense of how to prepare your business in a way that aligns with your goals and capacity.

This is a working session for your business. Designed to help you move forward with clarity, not just inspiration.