Brief
Absa Launches Trust‑Focused Design Conference in Johannesburg
The bank’s flagship event will run from 8 am to 4 pm on 30 September at The Forum Alice Lane in Sandton.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Absa Bank is hosting its third annual Experience Design Collab (XDC) in Johannesburg, with the theme “Designing for Trust: The Currency of the Future.” The conference, scheduled for 30 September from 8 am to 4 pm at The Forum Alice Lane in Sandton, will bring together business leaders, design professionals and customer experience specialists to discuss how human‑centred design can build measurable business outcomes and strengthen customer relationships.
Earlier in the year, Absa ran an internal event called XD Jam in July, giving designers and process engineers a platform to present real business case studies and improve public speaking skills. The 2026 XDC programme expands on this by adding a public flagship conference that will showcase practical case studies and cross‑industry collaboration.
Sivan Lapidus, executive head of design at Absa Personal and Private Banking, said the future of digital transformation will be decided not just by technology but by the trust organisations earn. She added that customers now seek experiences that are transparent, intuitive, inclusive and genuinely centred around their needs, and that design plays a critical role in creating that confidence.
Key facts
- Absa’s 2026 Experience Design Collab focuses on trust as the currency of digital transformation (bizcommunity.com)
- The flagship conference will be held on 30 September 2026 at The Forum Alice Lane in Sandton (bizcommunity.com)
- The event runs from 8 am to 4 pm (bizcommunity.com)
- Sivan Lapidus said design is critical to building customer confidence (bizcommunity.com)
- An earlier internal event, XD Jam, was held in July 2026 (bizcommunity.com)
Sources
- [1] bizcommunity.com — originally reported as “Absa Experience Design Collab 2026 explores why trust is the currency shaping Africa’s digital future - OnPoint PR”
