Summit Agenda
Three days of keynotes, panels, workshops, and networking — explore the full programme below.
Day 1 — Intentional Design: The Practice
Free AccessOpening Address
Osaru Alile-Abraham officially opens the PAID Summit 2026, setting the tone for three days of curated conversation on intentional design, professional practice, and design influence across the African continent.
Osaru Alile-Abraham
Creative Director, CC Interiors Studio · Convener, PAID Summit at CC Interiors Studio · Light Design Factory
Surreal Vision Arts — Opening Performance
Day 1 opens with a visual performance by Surreal Vision Arts.
Surreal Vision Arts
Visual Performance Group at TBC
Curating the Future: The Power of Intentional Design
A keynote on intentional design as ethics, responsibility and future-shaping practice. Design beyond aesthetics, trends, and ego.
Angelica Baccon
Principal, SHoP Architects at TBC
Interiors That Sustain
Designing with sustainability at the core - eco-conscious materials and sourcing, circular design practices, longevity and future-proof interiors.
Eden Carter
Global Curator & Sustainability Lead, Light Design Factory at Light Design Factory
Interiors That Sustain - Breakout Rooms
Five parallel breakout rooms (max 25 attendees per room) extending the Interiors That Sustain panel into deeper, practitioner-led discussion.
Parallel Breakout Rooms
Zoom (parallel) at PAID Summit
Afro DJ Mixes, Quizzes and Fun ft DJ Uniflex
Lunch break hosted by DJ Uniflex with Afro DJ mixes, quizzes and fun.
DJ Uniflex
DJ · Artist · Event Visionary at TBC
Heritage & Horizons: Culture in Interior Design
Decolonising the design brief, integrating African pattern, textile and craft, and reframing what 'authentically African' means in contemporary interiors.
Joy Ayere
Editor-in-Chief, The Light Design Edit at Light Design Factory
Heritage & Horizons - Breakout Rooms
Five parallel breakout rooms extending the Heritage & Horizons panel.
Parallel Breakout Rooms
Zoom (parallel) at PAID Summit
Studio Tour: Design House / Ile Eros
Studio and project tour at Design House / Ile Eros, hosted by CC Interiors Studio.
CC Interiors Studio
Studio Tour: Design House / Ile Eros at CC Interiors Studio
Spaces That Heal: Wellness & Emotional Design
Designing for mental health, sensory experience and emotional resilience - what the research says, and what it means for African interior practice.
Omari DuPont
Architect · Social Impact Lead, Light Design Factory at Light Design Factory
Spaces That Heal - Breakout Rooms
Five parallel breakout rooms extending the Spaces That Heal panel.
Parallel Breakout Rooms
Zoom (parallel) at PAID Summit
Happy Spaces: Design for Dignity & Social Impact
Closing reflections on Day 1 - design for dignity, social impact and the human experience.
Omari DuPont
Architect · Social Impact Lead, Light Design Factory at Light Design Factory
Day 2 — The Professional Practice of Interior Design
Full Access PassDay 2 Opening
Welcome to Day 2 - The Professional Practice of Interior Design.
Osaru Alile-Abraham
Creative Director, CC Interiors Studio · Convener, PAID Summit at CC Interiors Studio · Light Design Factory
The Next Generation: Education, Career Pathways & Mentorship
Building the next generation of African interior designers - getting your first client, study abroad vs build at home, mentorship, internships, and what African design education is missing.
Amara Duarte
Design Educator, Light Design Lab at Light Design Factory
The Next Generation - Breakout Rooms
Five parallel breakout rooms extending the Next Generation panel.
Parallel Breakout Rooms
Zoom (parallel) at PAID Summit
Professional Practice 101: Legal, Finance & Ethics
The legal, financial and ethical foundations every interior design practice needs - contracts, IP, compliance, and cross-border practice.
Amara Duarte
Design Educator, Light Design Lab at Light Design Factory
Professional Practice 101 - Breakout Rooms
Five parallel breakout rooms extending the Professional Practice panel.
Parallel Breakout Rooms
Zoom (parallel) at PAID Summit
My Biophilia Journey: Where It All Began
Insight session by Wangui Mwangii on her personal biophilic design journey - origins, principles, and how living-systems thinking shapes interior practice.
Wangui Mwangi
Founder, African Biophilia Conference & Expo at TBC
Lunch Break
30-minute lunch break.
Parallel Breakout Rooms
Zoom (parallel) at PAID Summit
Cef Ashanti — Live Musical Performance
Cef Ashanti performs a live musical interlude after the Day 2 lunch break.
Cef Ashanti
Live Musical Performer at TBC
Tech Meets Design: AI & the New Interior Practice
AI and emerging tech in the interior design practice - which tools, will AI replace designers, 3D and VR, project management, and digital brand-building.
Neo Aizawa
AI & Design Futures Analyst, Light Design Factory at Light Design Factory
Tech Meets Design - Breakout Rooms
Five parallel breakout rooms extending the Tech Meets Design panel.
Parallel Breakout Rooms
Zoom (parallel) at PAID Summit
The Preposterous Mind - Neurotechnology
Day 2 closing insight on neurotechnology - exploring the intersection of cognitive processes, creativity, and emerging technologies in design.
Osaru Alile-Abraham
Creative Director, CC Interiors Studio · Convener, PAID Summit at CC Interiors Studio · Light Design Factory
Day 3 — Design Influence & Authority
Full Access PassDay 3 Opening
Welcome to Day 3 - Design Influence & Authority.
Osaru Alile-Abraham
Creative Director, CC Interiors Studio · Convener, PAID Summit at CC Interiors Studio · Light Design Factory
Aesthetics to Authority: Pricing, Profit & Value
Hosted by Eden Carter and moderated by Paula Rumm, this panel explores how interior designers move from aesthetics to authority - pricing, profit, value-led practice and reputation.
Eden Carter
Global Curator & Sustainability Lead, Light Design Factory at Light Design Factory
Aesthetics to Authority - Breakout Rooms
Five parallel breakout rooms extending the Aesthetics to Authority panel.
Eden Carter
Global Curator & Sustainability Lead, Light Design Factory at Light Design Factory
Interior Design, Policy & Power
Knowledge session on the policy and regulatory landscape for African interior design - licensing, government engagement, and the case for a Pan-African standards body.
Joy Ayere
Editor-in-Chief, The Light Design Edit at Light Design Factory
Policy & Power - Breakout Rooms
Five parallel breakout rooms extending the Interior Design, Policy & Power session.
Parallel Breakout Rooms
Zoom (parallel) at PAID Summit
Lunch Break
30-minute lunch break.
Parallel Breakout Rooms
Zoom (parallel) at PAID Summit
Poetry by Favour Amubode
Post-lunch spoken-word poetry performance by Favour Amubode.
Favour Amubode
Spoken Word Artist · Lawyer · Narrative Disruptor at TBC
Designing Value: How Interior Design Justifies Investment
The business case for great interior design - ROI, real estate, hospitality, workplace and presenting value to sceptical clients.
Eden Carter
Global Curator & Sustainability Lead, Light Design Factory at Light Design Factory
Designing Value - Breakout Rooms
Five parallel breakout rooms extending the Designing Value panel.
Parallel Breakout Rooms
Zoom (parallel) at PAID Summit
Project Tour: CIPRO Group, Angola
Project tour with CIPRO Group's Arpino in Angola.
Arpino — CIPRO Group
Project Tour, Angola at CIPRO Group
Collaboration at Skill Level: Interiors × Architecture × Product
Cross-disciplinary collaboration between interiors, architecture and product design - conflict, overlap, contracts and co-creation with clients.
Neo Aizawa
AI & Design Futures Analyst, Light Design Factory at Light Design Factory
Collaboration at Skill Level - Breakout Rooms
Five parallel breakout rooms extending the Collaboration panel.
Parallel Breakout Rooms
Zoom (parallel) at PAID Summit
Global Positioning: Telling African Interior Stories
Telling African interior stories on the world stage - international press, global clients, awards, brand voice and cross-border collaboration.
Eden Carter
Global Curator & Sustainability Lead, Light Design Factory at Light Design Factory
Global Positioning - Breakout Rooms
Five parallel breakout rooms extending the Global Positioning panel.
Parallel Breakout Rooms
Zoom (parallel) at PAID Summit
Closing Remarks
Summit closing remarks from Osaru Alile-Abraham.
Osaru Alile-Abraham
Creative Director, CC Interiors Studio · Convener, PAID Summit at CC Interiors Studio · Light Design Factory
PAID Summit 2026 — Partner Reel
A closing reel honouring the partners, sponsors and supporters who made PAID Summit 2026 possible.
PAID Summit Partners
Sponsors & Partners at PAID Summit
After Party — Music, Gist, Games, Celebration
Summit close-out with an Afro DJ mix, games and celebration. Three days down, friendships forged, the conversation continues.
DJ Uniflex
DJ · Artist · Event Visionary at TBC