Design Matters 2026 · Tokyo · Nov 13–15, 2026
Call for Volunteers
We’re looking for on-site volunteers for Design Matters 2026, the global design event coming to Tokyo on Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15, 2026.
Applications close Wed, September 30, 23:59 JST
What is Design Matters?
Design Matters is a design conference held every year in Copenhagen, Denmark. Built on the idea that designers should inspire and learn from one another, it has grown in scale and influence as design has moved to the center of business through the era of digital transformation — and is now recognized as one of the most important design conferences in the world.
Design Matters Tokyo has run since 2020 as the conference’s first edition outside Denmark. There is no Copenhagen edition this year, which makes Tokyo the only place it happens. Designers working in Japan and abroad come together here — a rare chance to experience the latest global trends first-hand.
Official website: designmatters.io
The details
Schedule
- Fri, November 13, 2026 Setup day and welcome party (from around 1:00 PM)
- Sat, November 14, 2026 Day 1 and after-party
- Sun, November 15, 2026 Day 2 and teardown
★ Join for all three days, or just the days and hours that work for you (priority given to those available for all three days).
Venue
DMM.com LLC
24F, Sumitomo Fudosan Roppongi Grand Tower, 3-2-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-6224
Directly connected to Roppongi-itchome Station · Detailed access info
What you’ll be doing
Venue staff
- Reception and check-in
- Helping attendees
- Serving refreshments and drinks
- Running the cloakroom
- Setup and teardown
and more
Tech staff
- Operating the AV and sound equipment in the venue
- Looking after speakers before and after their talks
Who we’re looking for
How many
Around 15–20 volunteers
Notes
- This is a global event run mainly in English, and many attendees come from overseas.
- We expect around 200 attendees in total.
- Priority goes to people who can join for two or three days, but a single day is welcome too.
Eligibility
- Age 20 or over; students welcome (under 20, please get in touch first)
- Anyone interested in design, or working in a design-related field
- [A plus] Comfortable communicating in English, or currently studying it
- [A plus] Experience in customer-facing or hospitality work
Perks
- Three months of access to Design Matters+, where you can watch the Design Matters 2026 archive plus over 350 talks
Application deadline
Wed, September 30 · 23:59 JST
※ We plan to let everyone know around Wednesday, October 7.
FAQ
- Do I need to speak Japanese?
- No, it isn’t required. That said, the volunteer team will be made up largely of people based here, so if you speak Japanese — or are simply comfortable using it — you’ll find it much easier to work alongside your teammates. There’s no need to be fluent.
- Can students apply?
- Absolutely — we’d love to hear from you.
- Will I get to watch the sessions?
- We’ll do our best to accommodate requests, but please expect that you most likely won’t be able to sit in on talks. (You will have access to the archive afterwards.)
How to apply
Apply using the form below. We’ll review every application and get back to you.