Config 2025 Recap
Each year, Config brings together the brightest minds in design for a few days of inspiration, connection, and creative energy. 2025 was no exception! For our team, it wasn’t just about seeing what’s new in Figma or gathering cool swag (though both were highlights). It was about immersing ourselves in fresh ideas and walking away with new ways of thinking about our work. From stunning presentation decks to thought-provoking talks on collaboration, play, and unlearning, here’s what stuck with us from Config 2025.
Bekah Shaffer
As a designer at a digital agency, deck design isn’t just a part of my job, it’s a way of life. One of my favorite things about Config was seeing all the creative and beautiful ways speakers used slides to bring their presentations to life. In hindsight, I should’ve expected it because, of course, a design conference would be full of stunning decks, but it was such a lovely surprise and will be a source of inspiration for me for weeks to come!
Another takeaway that has stuck with me was from a specific session called “The Wild West of Collaborative Brand Design.” In this talk, the presenters really encouraged people (not just designers) to make collaboration a way of life. By being radically transparent throughout every step of a process, the work/designs/presentations/fill-in-the-blank will be better, and you will also hone your skills in ways you might not expect.
Doug Barba
Besides the bags of swag and beautifully designed event details, I was most taken away by the range of inspiration at Config 2025. A standout was the session block opening with Megan Metzger's talk on designing for unwavering reliability in the face of worst-case scenarios. This was brilliantly juxtaposed with Michelle Lee (IDEO), who explored the power of play in designing for friction, arguing that embracing friction can unlock more meaningful and joyful experiences. Now, I can't stop thinking about the potential of friction within the designs I create.
Joi McClain
I loved seeing Figma bring its bustling digital community to life with meaningful connections, creative activities, and collaborative learning. The sense of belonging at ConFig 2025 made the sessions more enriching and relatable. I especially loved hearing how Grace Walker embraced challenges and the transformative change that comes along with them in “Unlearning Design: How Testing Transformed My Work.” There have already been opportunities to apply ConFig lessons to my daily work, like refining my presentations with insights from Wojtek Dziedzic’s “Pitch Perfect: How to Present Ideas and Cut Through the Noise.” I’m excited to share these takeaways and more with my local St. Louis Figma community, which I discovered at ConFig!
Config 2025 reminded us why we love what we do, not just the craft of design, but the community, the curiosity, and the constant evolution. Whether it was an inspiring session, a new friend made in the hallways, or a powerful quote that now lives on our desktop backgrounds, we’re heading back to our work energized and full of ideas. We’re grateful to be part of a community that keeps raising the bar and can’t wait to carry these lessons into everything we create next.
Want to hear more about our experience at Config 2025 or interested in what we do? Reach out to us and we can set up time for Joi, Doug, and Bekah to chat in more detail!
Genuine is a digital experience agency with an independent spirit and the global scale of an IPG company. For 20 years, we've created marketing campaigns, website redesigns, lead nurture CRMs, social content, microsites, and everything else digital for clients in almost every B2B and B2C category there is.