Fireside Chat with Simona Maschi, CEO of CIID, on the Future of Design

A fireside chat with Simona Maschi, CEO and co-founder of the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design (CIID), and Akshay Verma (Founder, Prophecy) explored the evolving role of design in a tech-driven world — from its misunderstood origins to its strategic power in building innovative products and teams.

Simona shared global insights on what it takes to build design-driven organizations, the impact of AI on the future of interaction design, and how companies are using design to unlock new opportunities. The conversation also sparked discussion around strengthening India’s design ecosystem and helping founders embed design as a core capability from day one.