Dignified Futures
March 18-19, 2026 | Institute of Design at Illinois Tech | Chicago
How might a focus on dignity empower a wildly positive future?
The “now” can be complicated and overwhelming. With limited resources, time, bandwidth, and the crush of everything, it short circuits our best efforts to partner, to explore, to understand, and to build solutions that matter. Worse, efficiency and speed can leave dignity in the dust. But what if there were ways to intercept that downward spiral and, instead, create an updraft that benefits many? And what if the updraft becomes a force that pulls us positively forward?
Dignified Futures is a call to exploration as a community focused on designing systems that make a social impact. To push on collective thinking, to try out techniques and approaches, and to connect with others… cuz’ we need to.
Keynote Speakers & Artists
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Kim Erwin, MDes
Director, Equitable Healthcare Lab
Associate Professor, Institute of Design
Visiting scholar, UChicago Medicine -
Zayna Khayat
Chief Program Officer & Managing Director for the History and Future of Healthcare, AMS Healthcare
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Amy Heymans
Founder & Chief Strategy Officer, Beneficent
Assistant Professor, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
“We need to aim higher. The work we do isn't only impactful – it's essential. The people we serve need and deserve it..”
Juhan Sonin, CEO @ GoInvo
Agenda
The 2 day conference will feature workshops, inspirational keynotes, informative talks and an open space agenda designed by conference attendees. There will also be networking, surprises as fun. You will make some new friends for life.
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9:00 Registration
9:30 Future-Forward Workshops
11:30 A Hearty Lunch with Strangers -
12:45 Welcome, Keynotes and a Few Surprises
1:55 Ignite Talks
2:55 Randomized Coffee Trial
3:25 Art Experience and Open Space Keynotes
4:15 Opening the Open Space -
9:00 Final Open Space Schedule Posted
9:15 Open Space Sessions
12:15 A Hearty Lunch with New Friends -
1:30 Making Sense of it All
2:30 Closing Keynote and Wrap Up
3:00 Hang out with friends and snacks and/or head to the airport
2024 Conference Glimpse: Songs for Social Justice
At the 2024 conference in Boston, we were joined by students from Berklee School of Music as they performed songs and poetry on health topics and gave us a strong reminder why we do the work we do.
Conference Organizers
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Chris McCarthy
Founder, ILN Coaching & Consulting
Co-Host & Co-MC -
Amy Heymans
Founder & Chief Strategy Officer, Beneficent
Co-Host & Co-MC
Contact Us
Have a question about the conference? Want to stay informed or collaborate in some way? We can’t wait to hear from you!