## Designing a Better Future: Kearney Partners with World Design Congress to Fuel Impact-Driven Innovation
Imagine a world where design isn’t just about aesthetics, but about solving real-world problems and creating a more sustainable future. That’s the vision driving Kearney’s exciting new partnership with the World Design Congress. This isn’t just another sponsorship; it’s a commitment to harnessing the power of design thinking to tackle global challenges and redefine what’s possible.
Kearney Joins the World Design Congress as a Mission Partner to Drive Impact-First Innovation for a Sustainable Future
In a move that underscores its commitment to driving impact-first innovation for a sustainable future, Kearney, a leading global management consulting firm, has announced a strategic partnership with the World Design Congress. As a Mission Partner for the World Design Congress, hosted in 2025 by the UK’s Design Council, Kearney will play a pivotal role in shaping conversations on design-led innovation, circular economies, and the intersection of AI and sustainability.
This collaboration aligns with Kearney’s mission to harness human creativity and AI-powered innovation to restore ecosystems, uplift communities, and create lasting value for businesses and society. Kearney will support the World Design Congress on its Legacy initiative to upskill one million designers within five years.
Re:Design Tomorrow Flagship Event
Re:Design Tomorrow, Kearney’s flagship event, will take place in September alongside the World Design Congress. The event will feature expert-led panels and fireside chats on topics including AI, Emotional Design, and Brand Loyalty.
Some of the key takeaways from the event will include:
- How AI-driven emotional design is reshaping customer connections, fostering deeper, more meaningful relationships, and turning engagement into long-term brand advocacy
- Prioritizing sustainability, ethical AI, and real-world impact to ensure that technological advancements serve both people and the planet
- Aligning emerging technologies with long-term, adaptable, and sustainable design principles
Kearney’s Vision for Design and Sustainability
Kearney’s approach to design focuses on reimagining the status quo, starting with impact and then challenging conventions at every stage—from strategy to prototype—to create lasting client and customer value. At Kearney, we believe that design is more than aesthetics—it’s a catalyst for meaningful change.
Bharat Kapoor, Partner & Global Lead of PERLab, Kearney, said:
“Our partnership with the Design Council builds on our ambition to bring visionary leaders and groundbreaking ideas together to forge a powerful alliance between creativity and strategic insight, redefining product and service design’s future—one focused on advancing human centricity, technology-driven innovation, and long-term sustainability.”
Minnie Moll, Chief Executive of the Design Council, hosts of the World Design Congress London 2025, added:
“We are thrilled to have Kearney on board as a Mission Partner for the World Design Congress. Their expertise in design and sustainability will be invaluable in driving our Legacy initiative and shaping the future of design.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, Kearney’s partnership with the World Design Congress as a Mission Partner marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of impact-first innovation for a sustainable future. This strategic collaboration brings together the expertise of Kearney’s global management consulting firm with the creative problem-solving prowess of the design community, aiming to tackle the most pressing environmental and social challenges of our time. As discussed in the article, this partnership is poised to drive meaningful change by leveraging design thinking, innovation, and collective action to develop scalable solutions that benefit both people and the planet.
The implications of this partnership are far-reaching, with the potential to inspire a new wave of sustainable innovation that prioritizes social and environmental impact alongside business growth. As the world grapples with the complexities of climate change, inequality, and social justice, this collaboration serves as a beacon of hope, demonstrating that collective action and creative problem-solving can lead to transformative outcomes. Looking ahead, this partnership may pave the way for a new era of stakeholder-driven innovation, where businesses, governments, and civil society come together to co-create a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable future.