Last April, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the UXHealthcare 2025 Conference in London—a few intense and inspiring days filled with thought-provoking talks, honest debates, and powerful reminders of the responsibility we carry as designers in this field.

As a UX designer focused on healthcare products, this conference offered a deep dive into the issues that matter most today: designing seamless patient journeys, improving clinician workflows, enabling patient-centered service design for hospitals and clinics, and—perhaps most importantly—understanding and shaping the role of AI in healthcare UX.

One of the greatest values of this event was the community it created. I found myself in conversations with designers, researchers, service designers, product managers, and developers from across Europe. It wasn’t just about listening—it was about asking, debating, exchanging, and learning. We shared how we use AI in our workflows, how we conduct and structure user research, how we communicate insights to stakeholders, and how we can use our diverse perspectives to build better, more meaningful products.

Some of the key themes that stood out were:

AI in Healthcare

From mental health chatbots to intelligent diagnostic tools, we explored both the potential and the ethical boundaries of AI. We questioned how to humanize these tools, how to avoid harm or confusion, and what our role is as designers in shaping their impact. Ethics, regulation, and empowerment were at the heart of these discussions.

Accessibility

Accessibility isn’t a feature—it’s a foundation. We heard powerful stories that reminded us inclusive design begins with listening to real experiences and ends with reducing the barriers that keep users from acting independently. Designing for everyone means designing with intention.

Service Design in Complex Systems

In healthcare, research is only valuable if it leads to change. We discussed how to move from insight to action, how to overcome systemic barriers, and how to design with empathy to build practical, real-world solutions that truly work for users and healthcare professionals alike.

There’s so much to reflect on—and even more to act on. I’m excited to bring these insights back to Darwoft, knowing they’ll help us continue to craft better experiences for our healthcare partners and the people they serve.