UXCE 2025
Berlin welcomed over 600 UX professionals this past June for what has become one of Europe's largest design gathering. This wasn't a typical conference with pre planned sessions. Instead, Participants came with ideas, experiences, and questions, then took turns pitching their topics on stage. 108 sessions were pitched and debated by the attendees themselves. The tone was set early. Our organizing team opened with live music and a sing along. That simple act broke down the ice immediately. After that, the room wasn’t filled with strangers anymore. It was a community ready to co-create something together. Finally, we began with this year’s motto: “Iterate, Iterate, Celebrate!”
UXcamp Europe 25 – Review
Key Themes and Highlights
1. Artificial Intelligence: Moving Beyond the Buzz
If there was one theme that showed how much the UX field has matured, it was AI. Gone were the shallow “look what this tool can do” conversations. Instead, people shared honest case studies where AI generated insights turned out to be entirely fabricated, despite sounding perfectly plausible. We talked about frameworks for better prompt engineering, but also about what it means philosophically to outsource parts of our thinking to machines. One session that stuck with many of us imagined a world without apps, where AI quietly orchestrates interactions across different services. It was both thrilling and unsettling, which, honestly, is probably how progress feels.
2. Designing for Everyone: Accessibility
With important European legislation taking effect, many teams are finally prioritizing inclusive design. Accessibility wasn’t just a checkbox this year it was front and center. Practitioners shared their toolkits and also their frustrations, particularly around content management systems. People shared how inclusive design can make everyday life easier for everyone, from someone recovering from a wrist injury to a grandparent squinting at a phone screen. The takeaway was clear: accessibility isn’t a one off project, it’s a long term mindset that organizations need to nurture.
3. Navigating Complexity in Organizations
Many sessions circled around a familiar question: how do we keep UX work meaningful inside messy, ever changing organizations ? Participants shared stories about keeping influence when leadership priorities shift, and about making design work legible to stakeholders who think in numbers, not narratives. Storytelling came up often, not as a buzzword, but as a survival skill. The ability to explain what we do, and why it matters, is what turns design insight into organizational impact. Others looked at change management from the beginning. They studied ideas about organizational power and the factors that allow transformation.
4. Creating Space for Vulnerability
Some of the most meaningful moments happened when people shared their personal challenges. Conversations about neurodiversity in UX workplaces, managing mental health while handling demanding projects, and fostering team cultures where individuals can bring their true selves to work really resonated. These discussions were not just theoretical. People talked about real struggles and strategies, which created a sense of psychological safety that allows real learning to take place.
4. Research Grounded in Reality
Multiple sessions showed that our best insights come from watching people in their actual environments, facing their real limitations. Whether we conducted tests in unusual locations or explored why people’s stated intentions often do not match their actual behavior, the message was clear: we need to step away from the computer and into the complex reality where design truly exists. We also got interesting insights into how major companies organize their UX work, balancing the need for a consistent vision with the challenges of diverse development cycles and technical limitations.
A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Sponsors
We're grateful that Prof. Dr. Elke Greifeneder and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin recognized the importance of creating space for open intellectual exchange. We also appreciate our sponsors who support this community. Your support helps us keep this event accessible to everyone, no matter their organization's budget or career stage. Most importantly, thank you to each person who participated, whether you led a session, asked a tough question, or simply showed up with an open mind. Together, you created something special. Mark your calendars: UX Camp Europe 2026 will take place on May 23-24. We are excited to see what our community will come up with next year. In the meantime, keep improving, keep questioning, and take time to celebrate what you’ve accomplished.
Sponsors 2025
See you next time
