Design Strategy

**Wil jij impact maken als je voor een groep spreekt en tegelijkertijd stappen zetten in je carrière?** * Dan zijn **spreken in het openbaar, leiderschap en communicatie** dé belangrijkste vaardigheden die je moet beheersen. * Maar waar kun je deze vaardigheden leren en op een veilige manier oefenen? Bij ons! **Goudenraad Toastmasters van het Gooi**! In het prachtige **Huis van Eemnes**! * Verder over ons: * Met het bewezen en succesvolle **100-jarige Toastmasters-programma** van deze **wereldwijde organisatie** zet je stappen om zelfverzekerd voor een groep te staan en echte impact te maken. * Goudenraad is de **tweetalige club (Nederlands en Engels)** in het Gooi voor professionals, ondernemers, trainers, managers, docenten, technici en iedereen die op een leuke manier wil groeien en zijn communicatie- en leiderschapstalent verder wil ontwikkelen! * Wij komen **twee keer per maand** op een **maandag avond** samen in Het Huis van Eemnes, waar we uiteenlopende speeches in zowel het Nederlands als Engels horen en geven. Daarnaast ontvangen we **opbouwende feedback** die je van collega's misschien niet snel zou krijgen – en dat is **goud waard!** * Ook hebben wij regelmatig **mini-workshops en improvisaties** * Als Toastmaster kun je **wereldwijd netwerken** **met een internationale groep professionals,** deelnemen aan het **European Trainer's Network** en meedoen aan **Toastmasters-wedstrijden en conferenties.** En dat alles voor een **zeer betaalbare prijs!** Aarzel niet en meld je aan om **gratis en vrijblijvend als gast** een van onze bijeenkomsten bij te wonen. Email: goudenraadtoastmasters@gmail.com Adres: Huis van Eemnes, Noordersingel 4, 3755 EZ Eemnes

Kom naar het HaHaHo Makers Lab Utrecht voor een avond vol kennis & ervaringsdelen en maken, met de focus op elektronica met microprocessoren zoals Arduino & Raspberry Pi, LED’s en meetapparatuur. 19:00 Inloop + opzetten apparatuur 19:45 Standup: wat wil iedereen doen en/of leren deze avond? 20:00 Parallelle activiteiten: – startactiviteiten voor nieuwe deelnemers (Arduino, soldering, meetapparatuur, etc.) – onderlinge kennisuitwisseling adhv de wensen uit de standup – werken aan het gezamenlijke [PraatPaal-project](https://github.com/hadoopmarc/hahaho-interactive-pole) – werken aan je eigen project – ordenen/markeren van de ladenkasten met elektronisch componenten 21:30 Start met opruimen 21:45 Einde en verlaten van de Bibliotheek Wij zijn meestal met een groep van een kleine tien (er is ook nog een whatsapp aanmeldingslijst). Een laptop is niet noodzakelijk maar komt vaak van pas! We vragen een vrijwillige donatie van €5,55 per avond om de inventaris met apparatuur en elektronische componenten op peil te kunnen houden. English 19:00 Room available for setting up equipment 19:45 Standup: what are the participant’s plans and wishes for the evening? 20:00 Parallel activities: – starter activities for new participants (Arduino, soldering, measuring equipment, etc.) – sharing knowledge as follow-up on the plans and wishes expressed during the standup – working on the community [Interactive Pole project](https://github.com/hadoopmarc/hahaho-interactive-pole) – working on your individual project – sorting the chest of drawers with electrical components 21:30 Start decluttering the room 21:45 End: leave the Public Library Most evenings see a group of about 10 people (there is an additional whatsapp list). Bring your laptop if you want to program microcontrollers! We ask for a voluntary donation of €5,55 per evening to maintain the inventory with equipment and electrical components.

Love is in the air…! Our new initiative launches right after this years Valentine’s Day, for all you singles out there! **Slow dating events focused on discovering relationships built on compatibility over superficiality!** No more swiping, skip the bad dates! This is how it works: 1. We arrange matchmaking rendezvous events across the EU. 2. Once you arrive at the meetup, you fill in a fun 5-10 minute questionnaire on [affinitee.eu](https://affinitee.eu/) . We explore different aspects of relationship compatibility using this questionnaire. 3. Our matchmaking platform matches you up against other participants and provides a compatibility score against each of them. 4. Our organizers will then pair you up based on the match scores, and you will then proceed to play a well thought out connection boardgame, where you will be to able explore various aspects of living together as a couple. 5. Once done and if both parties approve, you will then be directed to one of the couple seats to get to know each other better! We believe in conscious, compatibility based matchmaking. Don't waste your time dating the wrong people! Note: As you may imagine, the turnout could potentially be gender imbalanced. If this does indeed happen, not to worry, you can still enjoy a wonderful boardgame night and maybe even find a good friend!

Craft night done right at the Krachtcentrale! Looking to activate your imagination? Join us for a night of watercolor painting - this time it's flowers! Grab a drink at the bar, then find us at a big table. Bring your own watercolors or use what we have on-hand. No experience needed, just your curiosity and creativity. This is a fun, social evening of painting and chatting while making our own little messy masterpieces. Come solo or with friends. About your host: Michelle is a Huizen based creative, originally from Portland, Oregon. Often crafting with paints, pens, fabric, woodblock, ceramics and more, she has loved playing with color since she was a kid.

Sick and tired of the LinkedIn hype machine surrounding the 50th newly released Copilot this week, or that one framework switching names 3 times in a single month? Wondering what exactly is going to change (or already has) for you as a software engineering professional before or after the AI bubble pops? In this talk, software/cloud architect, engineering nerd and ex-CTO Kevin takes you through a full circle moment, partially revisiting a talk from this very series of Technights 5 years ago before using a number of actual studies and experiences to help you with those exact questions based on (gasp) data and verified results. We'll discuss where we're at as an industry with plenty of jokes/memes along the way, but hopefully also walk away with the knowledge of what skills, methods and ways of working are provably (still?) effective in this new AIge of engineering for you to practice. **Program:** · 17:00 \- 17:30 \| Walk\-in · 17:30 \- 18:30 \| Diner · 18:30 – 19:30 \| Talk · 19:30 – 21:00 \| Borrel **🗓️ Date**: Maandag 2 maart 2026 **⏰ Time**: 17:00 - 21:00 **📍 Location**: Nevelgaarde 20G, 3436 ZZ Nieuwegein

ATTEND IN PERSON OR ON ZOOM In many different areas of philosophy, including ethics and philosophy of mind, difficulties arise from – or are made more intractable by – confusions over the viewpoints from which different claims are being made. Thomas Nagel explored this back in 1986 in The View From Nowhere, a book which focuses particularly on the interplay between subjective viewpoints and the objective viewpoint (ie ‘the view from nowhere in particular’). I was inspired by his book but I’m more interested in the differences between different human subjective viewpoints. I’ll take a look at a few of the many resulting philosophical tangles. In each case I’d also like to ask: what exactly is it to have a particular point of view? And is it more accurate to say that each of us has a point of view or that each of us is a point of view? Rick Lewis is the Founder and Editor of [Philosophy Now](https://philosophynow.org/) magazine, the most widely-read philosophy periodical in the English language. Lecture and discussion! See you there? This event is sponsored by the Royal institute of Philosophy. For the full programme of events pls see [pfalondon.org](http://pfalondon.org)

ATTEND IN PERSON OR ONLINE This event is sponsored by the Royal institute of Philosophy. Lecture and discussion! See you there? For the full programme of events pls see pfalondon.org

**Design Reimagined Utrecht (DRU) - 05 March 2026** Hosted by University of Applied Sciences Utrecht (HU) Join us for an evening of professional insight and networking as we explore how to integrate service design into your everyday role and master the art of the persuasive pitch. 📅 **Date & Time** **Date:** Thursday, 5 March 2026 **Time:** 18:00 – 21:00 📍 **Location** **Venue:** Hogeschool Utrecht, Room 0.011 **Address:** Padualaan 99, 3584 CH Utrecht 🎙️ **Featured Speakers** **[Bindu Upadhyay](https://www.linkedin.com/in/upadhyaybindu/)** \| Senior Service Designer\, **GitLab** Topic: ***"Adopting a Service Design mindset for your role."*** **[Varsha Prasad N M](https://www.linkedin.com/in/varshnm/)** \| Founder\, **IdeaCompass** Topic: ***"Designing the Pitch: Crafting Stories That Win Support."*** 🌯 There will be snacks and drinks. 🔗 **Join the Community** Space is limited, so please ensure you register your attendance through our Meetup page.

I'm excited to host the 18th edition of *Strangers to Friends*! Every event so far has been warm, fun and full of great connections. So we’re doing it again! Curious about our previous events? Check out our photo albums (only visible on the laptop version of Meetup). **What to expect** * A safe, relaxed environment to meet both locals and expats, whether you want to meet new people, experience an international atmosphere or talk about business, it’s all possible. * Start the evening with a few rounds of conversation cards: pair up with someone you don’t know, answer meaningful questions and rotate every 10 minutes. Within just one hour, you’ll get to know several people really well and enjoy meaningful conversations. * Everyone comes on their own, so it’s easy to connect. **Practical details** * Doors open at 20:00, after 30 minutes we start with conversation cards * Venue: Boekencafé Libertas, Klarendalseweg 477-1, Arnhem * 20 min walk from Arnhem Central * 7 min walk from Arnhem Velperpoort * You’ll receive 1 drink token for (beer/wine/soft drinks) and snacks all night! * Find us on the right side of the café at the bar, by the window and garden Bring a smile and join us for an evening where friendships grow, business ideas spark and real-life connections happen. Back to basics, away from screens, meeting face-to-face. Warm regards, Julia

***In this meetup, we explore why traditional feedback systems fail and what it really takes to build a culture of dialogue.*** ***\*\*\*Attention! This is an in-person event only. We need a minimum of 10 attendees for gaining the most value (besides the hosts). We will notice you in advance for a go/no go around February the 20th, 2026 \*\*\**** *Drawing from real consultancy experience and organizational case studies, we’ll unpack how feedback is shaped by deeply embedded systems of judgment, social conditioning, business culture, and biological responses to threat.* **Cool concrete case studies shared of different organizations with a diversity of challenges.** Let’s be honest: the word “feedback” can make your stomach clench. We brace for awkward conversations that end in painful silence, or we swallow our frustration to keep the peace. We worry about disrupting relationships or being misunderstood, so we often say nothing at all. But what is the true cost of this silence? Misunderstandings fester, trust erodes, and team morale quietly slips away. Ironically, by avoiding feedback to protect our relationships, we often end up creating the very disconnection we feared. As a result, we've developed a deeply unhelpful relationship with feedback treating it as a confrontation to be dreaded rather than a conversation for connection and growth. **Shift consciousness, habits, and leadership behavior at every level. Explore how to create cultures of dialogue instead of confrontation, where people feel seen, heard, and able to grow.** *** ### **Agenda** 17:30 - 18:00 Walk in 18:00 - 18:45 * Welcome & personal story * Current Systematics of Feedback 18:45 - 19:15 FOOOOD 19:15 - 20:30 * Clear Case Studies Example(s) of Feedback Systematics * Change the System of Feedback 20:30 Netwerk + Walk Out 21:00 Please go home you lovely people **Who Should Attend:** * Leaders * HR Professionals * Scrum Masters * Agile Coaches * Change Agents * Anyone who want to move beyond labels and is interested in creating a feedback culture.

Hello architecture enthusiasts! We're excited to announce our next meetup exploring the emerging world of AI agent platforms and orchestration! Join us for an evening where we'll tackle the architectural challenges of moving from standalone AI models to connected, intelligent ecosystems. Makan will share insights on how a capability mesh could solve today's AI orchestration challenges, while Pascal will dive into the practical patterns, protocols, and standards for building AI agent platforms. Come hungry for both knowledge and food — we've got plenty of both, plus drinks and great networking opportunities at OpenValue's Utrecht office. Both sessions will be presented in English. RSVP now for an evening of learning and connection! **Getting Here** Directions: [https://www.openvalue.eu/route/#utrecht](https://www.openvalue.eu/route/#utrecht). Parking is free. The office is within walking distance of Utrecht Zuilen train station. **Agenda** 17:30 Doors open 18:00 Food 18:30 Talk 1: Capability Mesh: Enabling Orchestration through Semantic Integration 19:30 Break 19:45 Talk 2: Building AI Agent Platforms: Architecture, Communication, and Standards 20:45 Drinks, fun, networking **Talk 1: Capability Mesh: Enabling Orchestration through Semantic Integration** *Makan Sepehrifar, Principal Engineer at Code Nomads* Ten years ago, microservices chaos led to "Service Mesh" solving the discoverability problem by replacing network endpoints with meaningful references, enabling scalability and observability. It worked brilliantly for connecting services. Today we're living through the same cycle with Generative AI and Agents, but the chaos is about integration, not networking. The old problems discoverability, scalability, observability are back because orchestrators now pick agents by capability, not name. Plus we face new challenges: explainability of agent actions and the possibility of unintended actions due to the non-deterministic nature of large language models. We need the same evolutionary leap from "Service Mesh" to "Capability Mesh" shifting from technical service contracts to semantic capability integration for autonomous AI. Key Topics and Take Aways: * From OpenAPI to MCP: The Protocol Shift in Agentic AI * MCP Gateways: The New Control Plane * Capability Hierarchies: Composing Agents at Scale * Human-on-the-Loop: Redefining Our Role in Agent Systems * Policy as Code: Governing Autonomous Agents * Observability & Safety: Tracing Agent Behavior *About Makan* Makan Sepehrifar is a software architect whose fascination with the intricacies of organizational behavior and cognitive psychology has led him to redefine the way technology interfaces with human understanding. Looking at software architecture as a craftsmanship process, he realized that the more abstract you look at it, the more complexities arises. His career has been a testament to his commitment to bridging the gap between technology and human behavior, resulting in innovative software solutions that not only work efficiently but also self-adaptive teams that embrace the mindset of agile. **Talk 2: Building AI Agent Platforms: Architecture, Communication, and Standards** *Pascal Wilbrink, Senior Software Engineer at OpenValue* AI systems evolve from standalone models into connected, agent-based ecosystems, new architectural patterns, protocols, and standards are emerging. Concepts such as AGUI, A2A, A2UI, and MCP-based applications are changing how intelligent systems are designed and integrated. This presentation explains how these approaches affect system structure, responsibilities, and interoperability. Using architectural diagrams, it shows how AI agent applications communicate and collaborate through standardized interfaces, and provides guidance on building scalable and maintainable AI platforms. *About Pascal* Pascal is a senior software engineer at OpenValue with over a decade of experience and a strong interest in applied AI and intelligent automation. He enjoys exploring how technology can make developers’ lives easier and software more resilient. When he’s not experimenting with new ideas or building open-source tools, Pascal likes to learn by doing and turning complex problems into practical solutions.

Whether you are a designer with a vision or a player who loves seeing how the "cardboard magic" happens, we invite you to our board game playtesting night in Den Bosch. Here is how you can get involved: **The Evening Flow** * **19:30 \| The Designer Pitch:** We kick things off with a quick showcase. Designers present their prototypes, giving you a glimpse into the mechanics and themes currently on the table. * **The Playtest:** Once the pitches are in, players choose their table. Our goal is to ensure every game gets the eyes (and hands) it needs. * **The Rotation:** Depending on the length of the games, ranging from quick fillers to more "epic" sessions, we will rotate players and designers throughout the night. * **22:30 \| Wrap Up:** We wind down the sessions, exchange final feedback, and head out. **Why Join Us?** * **For Designers:** Get your prototype off the kitchen table and into the hands of the players. Real-world feedback is the most powerful tool in your design kit. * **For Players:** Be the first to break (and then help fix) something new. Your insights directly influence the development of the next potential tabletop hit. **Location:** Labyrinth Den Bosch, Orthen 16, Den Bosch **Time:** 19:30 - 22:30ish Whether you have a game to test or just a passion for playing, come help us turn good ideas into great games. Bringing a game concept/prototype? Consider making a 1-pager (best known as a sell-sheet) to add to your table. Players appreciate this and it helps in preparing for your game pitch. To check for actual updates and to sign up as a designer please go to our Guild website and find the event post of that month. We also share more events and news there: [spellenmaakgilde.nl](https://spellenmaakgilde.nl/)

We’re heading out onto a **brand new trail** on the Veluwe, one we’ve never walked before. That alone makes this hike extra exciting. New paths, new views, and that lovely feeling of discovery from start to finish. From the start we dive **straight into the forest**, following winding woodland paths that slowly pull us deeper into the heart of the Veluwe. The forest feels calm and spacious, and with spring just around the corner you’ll notice nature quietly waking up. Budding trees, fresh greens, birds getting busier. It’s that in between season where everything is preparing itself. After several kilometers of forest walking, the landscape opens up as we reach the **Hoog Soerensche Veld**. Wide open fields, big skies, and that classic Veluwe contrast between forest and heath. From here we continue towards the **Asselsche Heide**, one of the quieter and more scenic parts of the Veluwe. This section offers lovely viewpoints, open heathland, and long sightlines that really give you that spacious Veluwe feeling. We finish where we started, completing a **full loop hike** through forests, open fields, and heathland. **📍When and where to meet?** We’ll meet at 11h30 at busstop Hoog Buurloseweg https://maps.app.goo.gl/sCMJ8Kg7MTUcYu1j7 ⏰ **We start walking a few minutes after meeting up** — we don’t wait for latecomers, as the forest calls and daylight is short this time of year. **🚗 Coming by car?** You can park here but please also do your own research: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sCMJ8Kg7MTUcYu1j7 **⏸️ Planned Breaks** After 9 km: 30 min lunch break in nature After 15 km: 15 min break in nature **💸 Payment** Please pay as soon as you sign up: To keep things fair for everyone, if we don’t receive your payment within 48 hours, we will need to remove you from the participant list. If there’s a waiting list, this will happen sooner (in less than 48 hours). If that happens, no worries — you’re always welcome to sign up again if there’s space. 🌟 Early Bird Deal! Join now for just €4 — available for 3 days (72h). After that, the price will be €5. Please pay here: [https://tikkie.me/pay/jto80gauep7vg7g1s9gp](https://tikkie.me/pay/jto80gauep7vg7g1s9gp) **👟 Good to know** * Refund policy: Cancellations are fully refundable up to 1 week before the event (This is Monday 2 March at 23h59). After this period, the fee becomes non-refundable. * Hike difficulty: Our hikes are moderately challenging. Please only join if you’re confident you can keep up with the group’s pace (5 km/ h)— it’s more fun for everyone when we can walk together without long waits. * If the pace is too challenging: We may kindly suggest you continue at your own pace. We’ll give you clear directions to the nearest bus or train so you can return comfortably. * At your own risk: You participate at your own risk, so please make sure you have appropriate insurance coverage for outdoor activities. * Payment note: With Tikkie we only see initials (e.g., J. Doe instead of John Doe). Please include your Meetup name in the payment note so we can match it easily. * Friends joining: If you bring a friend, make sure they also register and pay. * What to bring: Snacks, lunch, and water/ or hot thee/ coffee. * Stay connected: Join our WhatsApp group to be the first to hear about future hikes — ask for the QR code during the hike. * T-shirts: Fairwear-certified organic cotton, eco-friendly inks — €25. Sustainable, odor-resistant, and perfect for hiking. Let us know your size and we’ll bring one for you.

Join membersrs of the Central Ohio UX and digital design community for a casual monthly breakfast.

One of the most valuable parts of this community is the opportunity to think out loud with other product professionals. This session is built for exactly that. As we wrap up the quarter, it’s a great time to pause and reflect. What’s on track? What needs adjustment? Where could a small shift create bigger impact? Join fellow product professionals for a focused, interactive conversation designed to help you recalibrate for the next quarter. You’ll have the opportunity to share where you are, hear how others are thinking through similar challenges, and gain fresh perspective you can bring back to your team and organization. We’ll gather at 8:00AM, with discussion starting promptly at 8:15AM. 📍 First Watch - 7227 N High St Located in: The Shops at Worthington Ample parking is available. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Start your morning with clarity and connection — we hope to see you there! ☀️

**Web Design Decoded: Tools, Practices, and Proven Processes:** **Semantic HTML** At WebDev Columbus, we are exploring some of the most important topics of professional high-end web design and page building. Primarily focused on site building in the WordPress environment, our group explores tools, tips, and techniques for building the best WordPress sites possible. Additionally, we focus on disciplines and technologies that take website design from visually appealing to optimized spaces for delivering you and/or your client's message effectively and with a nod towards extended reach. Each session combines practical demonstrations with real-world insights, giving you actionable knowledge you can apply immediately. Whether you're a seasoned developer looking to enhance your design skills or a newcomer wanting to understand design best practices, this series offers valuable insights for every skill level. **What to expect:** * Hands-on demonstrations of popular design tools * Best practices for design-to-development workflows * Tips for creating responsive, accessible designs * Real-world problem-solving scenarios * Interactive Q&A sessions * Networking opportunities with fellow developers **Each meetup features:** 60 minutes of focused presentation 30 minutes of live demonstrations 30 minutes for questions and discussion **See you there!** Our casual, collaborative environment encourages learning from both presenters and fellow attendees. Bring your questions, share your experiences, and connect with Central Ohio's web development community! **Stay tuned for specific session topics and dates.**

Join other experienced and aspiring agile coaches and professionals to: * develop and practice your coaching skills in a peer-to-peer environment * share current successes and challenges in your work environment and get support from each other * learn from each other, build better relationships and experiment with new ideas

**TBA**

We will show a variety of methods for building agents that run in Microsoft Foundry. This covers the different types of agents: Prompt, Multi, and Hosted, as well as the development lifecycle using evals and traces.

Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you! **What to Expect at the Intro Circle** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup: * Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics Round 1 - (7 secs max): * Your name * What you're working on * What you can help others with Round 2: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. Round 3: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!