Reflections from the Polyform Studio team
Last week, our home city of Vancouver became the epicenter of global tech innovation as Web Summit touched down on Canada's West Coast for the very first time. As a studio that's spent over a decade partnering with visionary founders to amplify their missions through design, we couldn't have asked for a better backdrop to witness the future unfold.
Vancouver: More Than Just a Beautiful Setting
Walking into the Vancouver Convention Centre each morning, with the North Shore mountains as our backdrop and the harbor stretching out before us, it was impossible not to feel that something special was happening. This wasn't just another tech conference, it was Vancouver announcing itself as a serious player on the global innovation stage.
With nearly 16,000 attendees from around the world, the energy was palpable. But what struck us most wasn't the scale, it was the character. Vancouver's tech scene has always been different. We've thrived at the margins, as eco-hackers, indie AI labs, and community-centered builders. We're not trend chasers. We're system-questioners. And Web Summit gave us the perfect platform to show the world what that looks like.
The People Who Showed Up
The speaker lineup read like a who's who of tech innovation. Jay Graber, CEO of Bluesky, sharing insights on decentralized social networks. Max Lytvyn from Grammarly discussing the evolution of AI-powered writing tools. Jack Newton of Clio (our very own Vancouver success story) delivering a keynote on legal tech transformation.
But beyond the marquee names, what excited us most were the 1,100 exhibiting startups showcasing their innovations. Over half were led by female entrepreneurs, reflecting a beautiful shift toward diversity and inclusivity that we've been championing in our own work at Polyform.
As designers who've worked with everyone from Nike to emerging Web3 startups, we found ourselves in countless conversations with founders who reminded us why we do this work. These weren't just people with cool technology, they were mission-driven builders trying to solve real problems.
What We Witnessed
Three major themes emerged that directly align with the work we're doing at Polyform Studio:
Multimodal AI is Becoming Foundational
Jim Louderback from Inside the Creator Economy emphasized that "it's not just text – it's multimodal." We saw this everywhere. Startups like ColdStart, who had a booth at the exhibition level, are using auto-generated sitemaps and multimodal formatting to optimize content for AI engines.
This resonates deeply with our recent projects. We've been designing interfaces that seamlessly blend voice, visual, and contextual data, moving far beyond the single-input paradigms of the past. The future isn't about choosing between text, voice, or visual interaction. It's about orchestrating all of them together.
Community-Centered Design is Replacing Metrics-Driven Thinking
One panelist revealed something that stuck with us: "The best way to ensure media coverage is having face-to-face relationships." This translates directly to product design. We're moving away from designing for vanity metrics and toward building for sustained, meaningful human connection.
At Polyform, we've always believed in our "Jr. Board of Advisors", young voices that help us future-proof our products. Seeing this community-first approach validated on such a global stage was incredibly affirming.
Sustainability Isn't a Feature: It's a Constraint
The conference explored a variety of topics, including smart energy innovations, and Vancouver's positioning as a leader in sustainable technology was on full display. This isn't about adding green features to existing products—it's about fundamentally rethinking how we design digital experiences.
We're seeing design systems that optimize for digital carbon footprints, energy-efficient interactions, and longevity over engagement addiction. It's a constraint that's actually unlocking more creative solutions.
Vancouver's Secret Sauce
What became clear throughout the week was that Vancouver brings something unique to the global tech conversation. We've always thrived at the margins; eco-hackers, indie AI labs, community-centered builders. While Silicon Valley optimizes for scale and New York focuses on financial innovation, Vancouver seems to be optimizing for human and planetary impact.
We've got a reputation as a green city. Let's double down on that. The conference became a launchpad for new green tech initiatives, from clean energy solutions to sustainable building tech. It wasn't just talk, we witnessed real innovations being demonstrated, real partnerships being formed.
The mountains and ocean aren't just pretty scenery, they're a constant reminder that technology should serve the natural world, not replace it.
What We're Taking Away
As we reflect on the week, three key insights are shaping how we think about our work moving forward:
Design for Validation at Every Step: It has NEVER been more important to design for early validation! With generative AI tools, the barrier to testing and iterating on ideas has never been lower. We're doubling down on concept validation before our clients invest heavily in development.
Embrace Emerging Tech as a Design Medium: From AR to AI to Web3, these aren't just technologies to accommodate, they're new design mediums with their own languages and possibilities. Our work with spatial computing and AI-powered interfaces is just the beginning.
Community Over Metrics: The most successful products we've designed aren't the ones with the highest engagement rates, they're the ones that create lasting connections between people. Web Summit reinforced that authentic community building beats growth hacking every time.
Looking Forward
Web Summit Vancouver 2025 wasn't just a conference it was a statement. Vancouver is ready to be a global innovation hub, but on our own terms. We're not trying to become Silicon Valley North. We're building something better: a tech ecosystem that prioritizes human connection, environmental responsibility, and genuine innovation over quick exits and vanity metrics.
For startups and established companies alike, the message was clear: the future belongs to those who can balance technological capability with human empathy, global reach with local impact, and rapid innovation with sustainable practices.
As designers and builders, we couldn't be more excited about what comes next. The conversations started at Web Summit are just the beginning. Now comes the real work: turning these insights into products that actually make the world a little bit better.
If you're working on something that fits this vision, whether it's AI-powered sustainability tools, community-driven platforms, or entirely new categories we haven't imagined yet—let's talk. The future is being designed right here in Vancouver, and we'd love to help you build it.
About Polyform Studio: We act as your embedded product design team, crafting launch-ready MVPs, breakthrough interfaces, and bold brand experiences for startups building the future. Based in Vancouver, we specialize in emerging tech including AI, AR/VR, and Web3. Learn more about our work.
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