8th Annual Designing for Empathy Summit at FIT Explores Kinship
The 8th Annual Designing for Empathy Summit will be held on October 23–24, 2025, at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City. The event is organized by the Organization of Networks for Empathy (ONE) and hosted by the FIT Exhibition and Experience Design MA Program and the FIT School of Graduate Studies.
This year’s theme is Kinship. The program will explore how museums, libraries, performing arts centers, and natural settings foster transformative experiences. These spaces help people deepen self-knowledge and strengthen a sense of connection to one another and to the world.
At a time when unity and empathy matter more than ever, the Designing for Empathy Summit will highlight the power of values-driven design. The event brings together designers, artists, scholars, and scientists who are using empathy to inspire meaningful change in communities.
FIT acting chair and professor Brenda Cowan will join leaders including Elif M. Gokcigdem, PhD, Christina Lyons, and Melisa Delibegovic to guide key discussions. Their work will focus on how empathy-centered practice can shape the future of experience design.
The summit is open to all FIT employees and students, as well as professionals in design and cultural fields.
📅 Save the Date: October 23–24, 2025
📍 Location: SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, NY
Learn more at: www.oneempathynetwork.com