Camp Digital, the annual conference exploring the latest trends in human-centred design and technology will return to Manchester on Thursday 7 May 2026 for its 14th year.
The event, held at the Royal Northern College of Music, has become a fixture in the UK’s digital and design calendar, attracting practitioners from the public sector, charities, agencies and industry for a day of talks focused on how technology shapes real-world services and experiences.
This year’s conference will include themes spanning ethical and responsible technology, accessibility and inclusion, designing for change, and the growing role of AI and data in public services. Alongside these, the conference will explore the importance of creativity, participation and optimism in digital work.
A diverse speaker line-up has been confirmed including Rachel Coldicutt, ethical technologist and founder of Careful Industries, who will speak on the need for hopeful technologists, drawing on her work at the intersection of technology and society.
Digital transformation leader Himal Mandalia will address how organisational change can be redesigned to avoid burnout, while award-winning game designer Dan Hett will reflect on creativity and experimentation in digital culture.
Dan Barrett, head of data and AI at Citizens Advice, will share lessons from implementing data and AI in a major national charity. Laura Yarrow, head of design at GOV.UK, will explore how playfulness and creativity can support better outcomes in complex environments.
The event also includes sessions on delivering services in challenging contexts, including work on the Ukrainian resettlement response, and cross-disciplinary collaboration in healthcare design.
Camp Digital will again host its lightning talks in partnership with 300 Seconds, providing a platform for speakers from underrepresented groups and those early in their careers to share ideas and build visibility within the industry.
The event’s Rising Stars programme will continue to offer funded tickets for students, educators and early-career professionals, aimed at widening access and supporting greater diversity within the digital and design sectors.
Accessibility remains central to the conference, with sessions addressing inclusive practices both in digital products and team cultures. The event itself will be fully accessible, including live captioning throughout.
Hilary Stephenson, managing director of Nexer Digital, the company behind Camp Digital, said: “Camp Digital has always been about bringing people together to share ideas openly and learn from one another. In a time of rapid change, it’s more important than ever to create space for thoughtful, human-centred conversations about how we design and build digital services.
“This year’s event reflects the challenges and opportunities facing our sector, from AI and data to inclusion and ethics, but also the need for hope, creativity and collaboration in how we move forward.”
Camp Digital is aimed at anyone working in digital, design or technology, from students and early-career practitioners to experienced leaders across sectors.