DesignWalks - Toronto - Walk 5 - Finding Your Ikigai
What is This Walk About?
Welcome to 2026! We're kicking off the year with something different - a deep dive into meaning, purpose, and the work that truly matters to you.
This isn't about portfolios. This isn't about job hunting. This is about reconnecting with why you do what you do.
We'll be exploring ikigai - a Japanese concept that translates to "reason for being." It's the intersection of:
What you love
What you're good at
What the world needs
What you can be paid for
The Format
Before the Walk (Your Homework): We're giving you one week to work on your ikigai diagram. This is personal work - take your time with it. Sit with the questions. Be honest with yourself.
Here's the Figma file with the Ikigai framework for you to copy and work with: 🤓
https://www.figma.com/board/WAC6SNSO3DA1LrIs3g1YeP/IKIGAI?node-id=0-1&t=ZzBPe8RacptVKYOJ-1
During the Walk: We'll gather to share what we discovered:
What surprised you about your ikigai?
Where are the gaps between where you are and where you want to be?
What's your big design dream - not "I want to work at Apple" but what do you actually want to build?
How do we move from thinking about it to actually doing it?
This is about declaration - speaking your goals and dreams out loud to people who get it. Because when you declare something, you give yourself permission to pursue it.
Why Ikigai Matters for Designers
Most designers entered this field because something moved us. Then sprint planning, stakeholder politics, and tech debt buried that fire.
But here's the truth: most people today have a meaning problem. They show up Monday with dead faces, living for the weekend.
If people were enjoying their work more - if they felt connected to their why - everything would be different.
The ikigai exercise helps you:
Identify what truly drives you
Understand where you want to go (not where you "should" go)
Find the courage to make intentional decisions about your career
Connect with others on the same journey
Who This Is For
This walk is for designers who:
Want more than surface-level networking conversations
Are willing to be vulnerable and honest about where they are
Have a growth mindset and think about their own life direction
Want to build accountability partnerships with driven people
Are tired of just consuming - they want to create with purpose
This is NOT for:
People just looking for job leads
Those seeking quick fixes or easy answers
Anyone uncomfortable with introspection and personal sharing
We're looking for the 20 people who want to go deep.
Event Details
Cost: Free - just bring your completed ikigai work and openness to share
What to Bring
Your ikigai diagram (completed beforehand - we'll share resources)
Your big design dream - not a job title, but what you want to build or create
Honest reflections on the gaps between where you are and where you want to be
Openness to declare your goals to the group
Comfortable walking shoes (if we do walk) and weather-appropriate clothing
The Ikigai Exercise (Do This Before You Come)
Use this Figma template [link] or create your own version:
Four Circles to Fill:
What I Love - What lights you up? What could you do for hours?
What I'm Good At - Your skills, talents, natural abilities
What the World Needs - Problems you care about solving
What I Can Be Paid For - Market value, monetizable skills
The Intersections:
Love + Good At = PASSION
Good At + Paid For = PROFESSION
Paid For + World Needs = VOCATION
World Needs + Love = MISSION
The Center (Your Ikigai): Where all four overlap - this is your reason for being.
The Philosophy
This isn't about perfection. Your ikigai will evolve. The point is to:
Think intentionally about your life and work
Declare your goals to others (this creates accountability)
Find your people - those on a similar journey
Make it real - move from thinking to doing
As one member put it: "The best career move isn't always the next promotion. Sometimes it's remembering why you started - and giving yourself permission to chase it."
What Happens During the Session
Welcome & Framing (10-15 min)
Pair Sharing (10-15 min) - Find someone new, share your ikigai insights
Group Discussion (30-45 min)
What surprised you?
What gaps did you find?
What's your big design dream?
How do we actually make it happen?
Declaration Round (20-30 min) - Share your goals with the group
Accountability Partners (10 min) - Connect with others for ongoing support
Close & Next Steps (5-10 min)
Limited to 20 Spots
We're keeping this intimate by design. This is for people who want to:
Reconnect with their design "why"
Stop collecting ideas and start building them
Find others who understand the gap between client work and creative fulfillment
Create accountability for making their dreams actually happen
Good vibes. Real talk. Growth mindset required.
Design Walks exists to bridge the gap in the design community by bringing designers together. We're creating a space where design professionals can connect with other creatives in an environment where the only participation cost is knowledge to share - and the courage to pursue what matters.
Ready to find your ikigai?