Belfast Design Meetup
Belfast Design Meetup is a free after-work event for designers to learn, connect, and grow together. Starting at 5:30 PM, we’ll host talks, discussions, and real-world experience sharing in Belfast City Centre at MCS Group's stunning event space.
T A L K S
① From Apple to Ideas by Damien Pascoe, Head of UX at Virtuoso.
Damien Pascoe explores creativity and the role of UX designers in the age of artificial intelligence. The talk begins with a simple exercise in which participants take turns drawing apples without repeating one another’s ideas. Through this activity, Damien shows how we move from obvious solutions to unexpected concepts, why generating more ideas helps us find stronger ones, and how building on other people’s contributions expands our thinking. He then connects these principles to UX and product design, examining when to follow familiar patterns and when to push beyond them to create something new.
Drawing on a brief history of UX and the skills that underpin the discipline, Damien considers what human designers bring to a process in which AI can already generate interfaces and apply established rules. He explores the value of creative intuition, empathy, cultural awareness and lived experience, alongside the ethical risks of simulating human emotion. The talk argues that AI can amplify a designer’s capabilities, while human understanding remains essential to setting direction, knowing when to break the rules, and creating products that resonate with people.
② Making a Mark: The Decisions Behind Enduring Logos by David Airey, Independent Designer at David Airey Studio.
David Airey is an independent brand identity designer and author who founded his studio in Northern Ireland in 2005. Known for his books Logo Design Love, Identity Designed and Identity Designed: The Process, he has worked with clients in more than 30 countries, including the BBC, Yellow Pages and the Asian Development Bank.
Clients often want a logo to explain what their business does. It rarely needs to, and trying to do so can weaken it. Drawing on both old and new projects, David Airey will share what makes a mark effective and lasting: simplicity, distinctiveness, and relevance. He’ll also cover why being ownable matters as much as being memorable, and how he approaches the client side by presenting ideas to keep feedback focused on the brief and spot potential problems early.
W H E R E
The venue is the MCS Group office event space, located on the 10th Floor of The Ewart, 3 Bedford St, Belfast BT2 7EP. We’d like to thank MCS Group for hosting the event and providing beers and soft drinks. It’s a space designed for open conversation, fresh ideas, and community learning.
C H E C K I N
Please try to arrive between 5:30pm and 6:00pm, as this is our check in window and we’ll be welcoming all guests during this time.
If you’re running a little late, don’t worry, we’ll do our best to help you get access.
If you have any issues, please send a message in the Belfast Design Community WhatsApp group and someone will help you. If you’re not yet in the group, visit the Belfast.Design website and click “Become a Member”.
P A R K I N G
🅿️ Around The Ewart – 3 Bedford St, Belfast BT2 7EP. It might be a bit challenging to find a spot, but since it’s an after work event, you will likely find one with a bit of patience.
🅿️ Little Victoria Street Car Park – Downshire Pl, Belfast BT2 7JQ. Conveniently located nearby.
🅿️ NCP Belfast The Tannery – 1 Francis St, Belfast BT1 1EJ. The most affordable option, about a 12-minute walk from the venue.
Everyone is welcome, including Developers, Managers, Experience Designers, Product Designers, all types of Designers, Marketers, Researchers, and all UX-related professionals. This event isn’t just for designers; it’s for anyone interested in creating better user experiences and learning from one another.
Keep learning and meet new people.
The event takes place on the second Thursday of every month.
J O I N
Join the Belfast Design Community at www.belfast.design to access our WhatsApp chat, the largest experience and product design library, and exclusive discounts.