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Design Groups San Francisco

Connect with San Francisco's vibrant design community

Design Mentor Night

Design Mentor Night

Thu, May 28, 12:30 AM
From Cascade SF, Experience Designers
4.7

## Tickets coming soon Tickets will launch once we secure a venue. Join the waitlist to be notified when registration opens. *** ## Mentors confirmed so far Lisa Aufox — Lead Product Designer at Meta Elina Lin — Staff Product Designer at Salesforce Lukasz Lysakowski — UX Design Director at Workday Kevin Tufts — Senior Product Designer at Meta Brandon Arnovick — Principal Product Designer at Chase Ellen Drewes – Principal Product Designer, Consultant Nicole Boac — Senior Product Designer at Shipt Kevin Johnson — Senior Product Designer at Carrier Nathan Diesel — Senior Product Designer, Consultant Courtney Escanio-Mandel — Founder at Sparkologie Jorge Luis Maya — Product Designer at ERGO Next Mason Lee — Product Designer at Freed *** ## Cascade SF Design Mentor Night Cascade SF is back in San Francisco. We’re kicking things off with an evening of 1:1 mentorship focused on getting hired in today’s AI-driven design job market. Attendees will receive 20-minute sessions with experienced product designers for portfolio feedback and career advice. **Target date:** Wednesday, April 29 · 5:30–8:30 PM *** ## Want to mentor, host, or sponsor? We’re currently looking for a venue. If you’re interested in getting involved, email **andi@cascadesf.com**.

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78 attendees
Architecture, Design & Drinks — April 2026

Architecture, Design & Drinks — April 2026

Sat, Apr 25, 1:00 AM
From Architecture, Design & Drinks
4.9

Architecture, Design & Drinks is a casual monthly gathering for people who work in, around, or are inspired by design. We meet on the last Friday of each month to unwind, trade ideas, and connect. No agenda, no pressure. Whether you’re an architect, designer, creative, or simply design-curious, this is an easy way to expand your circle and have meaningful conversations in a relaxed setting. New faces are always welcome. Grab a drink, join the conversation, and stay as long as you’d like.

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11 attendees
UX Designers Walk & Talk SF @ Location TBD: Comment your suggestions

UX Designers Walk & Talk SF @ Location TBD: Comment your suggestions

Sat, May 2, 7:00 PM
From UX Social
4.7

Make new friends, explore beautiful locations in the city, and discuss your favorite Figma update. Participate at your comfort level. Friends and pets welcome, as long as they're well behaved!

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19 attendees
AI Design With Friends

AI Design With Friends

Sat, Apr 25, 9:00 PM
From Designers: Mission Creatives Meetup
4.8

Design is evolving, and AI is our new co-pilot. Join us every Saturday in the Mission for a dedicated space to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and visual design. From UI/UX workflows to generative art and brand systems, this is a friendly environment to master new tools and push the boundaries of what’s possible. Whether you’re curious about "vibe coding" your way through a front-end prototype or perfecting your Midjourney prompts, come hang out with fellow creatives. **What to expect:** * **10:00 AM - 11:45 AM:** Hands-on Design & Exploration. Open studio time to work on your projects. Experiment with tools like Figma AI, Adobe Firefly, Midjourney, Uizard, or even v0 for rapid UI prototyping. * **11:45 AM - 12:00 PM:** Show & Tell. Share your latest creations, discuss "ethical AI" in design, and swap workflow secrets that save hours of tedious work. **Who should join:** Product designers, UI/UX researchers, graphic artists, and anyone fascinated by the future of creative tools. No technical background is required—just a passion for aesthetics and innovation. **What to bring:** * Your laptop or tablet. * Current design files or a blank canvas. * An open mind. (Traditional Designing is more than welcome as well!) Kindly patronize the coffee shop. Thanks!

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4 attendees
San Francisco. AI automation at scale

San Francisco. AI automation at scale

Wed, Apr 22, 12:30 AM
From Projector Global Community
4.8

**IMPORTANT! Please register on [Luma page](https://luma.com/feyoijah)** *Ignore the displayed time — it’s 5:30pm SF time.* A community-focused panel organized by [Projector Community](https://community.prjctr.com/?utm_source=luma) (by [Projector Institute](https://prjctr.com/en/about?utm_source=luma)) × [Freepic](https://www.freepik.com/?utm_source=luma), feat. [111Tech](https://111techs.com/info/?utm_source=luma), exploring how design leads at various company scales are personally adapting their workflows and mindsets to the rise of AI. ​ [Jose Ballestas](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-ballestas/?utm_source=luma) (Head of design tools at Freepik) ​[Andy Madrick](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nmatares/?utm_source=luma) (Product Designer at Notion), and ​[Nick Matarese](https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-madrick-67815589/?utm_source=luma) (Sr. Staff Design Lead @ Google Labs, ex-YouTube) ​will break down what it really means to create digital products today — when AI is no longer a feature, but the core material. ​Moderated by [Alla Odeianenko](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alla-odeianenko-3171762a/?utm_source=luma) (Lead Product Designer at Google). ​ This panel brings together design leaders from different environments to share how AI is influencing not just tools, but the way they think, prioritize, and lead. Expect honest perspectives, practical examples, and a closer look at how teams are navigating this shift in real conditions. * ​Different approaches to AI adoption across company stages * ​How leadership mindset is evolving alongside new tools * ​Trade-offs teams make when integrating AI into workflows * ​Signals of what “good design” means in an AI-augmented world ​Come for real cases. Stay for real insights. ✨ ​**Location:** Freepic, 1169 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States ​**Date:** April 23, 5:30 PM *** ​**Hosts:** ​[Projector Community](https://community.prjctr.com/?utm_source=luma) (by [Projector Institute](https://prjctr.com/en/about?utm_source=luma)) — AI focused non-commercial global creative and tech community for tech professionals. Founded by the online institute [Projector](https://prjctr.com/en/about?utm_source=luma), originally from Ukraine and now active in 25+ cities worldwide — from Berlin and Lisbon to San Francisco. ​[Freepik](https://www.freepik.com/?utm_source=luma) — ​​Since its inception in 2010, [Freepik](https://www.freepik.com/?utm_source=luma) has revolutionized the digital design landscape by democratizing access to cutting-edge AI tools. The platform serves over 64 million creatives worldwide. It offers groundbreaking AI-powered tools that allow users to instantly manipulate and enhance their designs, empowering individuals and enterprises to create stunning visuals easily. ​[111Tech](https://111techs.com/info/?utm_source=luma) — is a creative studio that transforms ideas into impactful digital products. Combines strategy, design, and development — from concept to delivery. ​[CatalystBay](https://www.catalystbay.com/?utm_source=luma) — hosts focused gatherings for engineers, designers, PMs, marketers, and devrels, the people turning AI ideas into real products.

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1 attendee
The WebAIM Million - the 2026 a11y analysis of the top one million home pages

The WebAIM Million - the 2026 a11y analysis of the top one million home pages

Wed, Apr 29, 12:00 AM
From Bay Area Accessibility and Inclusive Design
4.8

Join WebAIM's Jared Smith as he discusses their latest annual analysis of the top one million home pages and their accessibility. Jared is a well-known digital accessibility industry leader and the Executive Director of WebAIM. Event Agenda: • 5:00 pm — Event begins, welcome new members. Accessibility industry job announcements & job seeker intros. • 5:15 to 6:00 pm — Jared's talk • 6:00 to 6:10 pm [Optional] Socializing & networking in Zoom breakout rooms, for anyone who'd enjoy hanging out online after the talk to chat with old friends & new meetup members. Zoom Information: • How to participate via Zoom: The Zoom URL will be shared via email with people who RSVP via the Meetup app or site. It will also be published on this event page on the day of the event. • Check to make sure your email settings are enabled to receive "event updates from organizers" ( [https://www.meetup.com/account/comm/a11ybay/](https://www.meetup.com/account/comm/a11ybay/)) in your account settings, or you may not receive relevant messages. • How socializing in breakout rooms will work: We’ll use the Zoom breakout rooms feature to give folks an opportunity to network and chat with others in smaller conversations with randomized participants. If you do not feel comfortable making conversation with other people during this meetup, we'll pause briefly after the main talks so you can log off. Those Those who want to chat, just stay on the Zoom!

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24 attendees
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Frequently asked questions

Meetup offers a platform where designers in San Francisco can find and join local groups focused on design interests. It’s a hub for learning, networking, and collaborative events.

Simply search for design groups within San Francisco on Meetup to discover a variety of local communities focused on your design interests.

Yes, Meetup frequently hosts design-related events in San Francisco, ranging from workshops to networking meetups, where you can participate and create connections.

In San Francisco, there are diverse design groups covering everything from graphic design to user experience and fashion, offering many avenues for engagement.

Absolutely, you can join multiple design groups. This allows you to explore various aspects of design and expand your network across different fields.

While many events are free, some groups might charge a fee to cover materials or venue costs. Always check the event details on Meetup for specific information.

Meeting frequency varies by group, with some organizing weekly gatherings while others may meet monthly. Check individual group event schedules for precise timings.

Definitely, you can RSVP through the Meetup platform, ensuring your spot at design events in San Francisco's vibrant community.

You can find both in-person and online design events on Meetup, allowing flexibility depending on the organizer's format.

While Meetup connects you with potential industry mentors, developing such relationships depends on active engagement and networking at events.

Not all specific design fields may have active groups, but you can explore broader categories or start a new group if you don't find your niche.

Interested in hosting? Register on Meetup as an organizer, and you can create and operationalize your own design events for San Francisco's community.

Joining design meetups is an excellent way to expand your creative horizons, collaborate on projects, and gain new insights while connecting with fellow enthusiasts.

Event frequency varies significantly depending on the groups' organizers, so not all design meetups may be regular. Check Meetup for current scheduling.

Yes, if you're passionate about design, consider starting a group. Meetup allows you to create a community around your specific design interests easily.