Design Evenings LDN: Keeping WhatsApp Fresh, Simple, and Approachable
Exclusive Event
Design Evenings LDN:Keeping WhatsApp Fresh, Simple, and Approachable
Join us for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how the WhatsApp team refreshed the visual experience of 3 billion users, reimagining the UI of one of the world’s most widely used apps through simplicity, boldness, and thoughtful design at scale.
Join key members of the WhatsApp team for a conversation on how thoughtful, collaborative design can refresh the experience of 3 billion users. From aligning brand, engineering, and design to reimagining UI at global scale, the team will explore how simplicity, approachability, and innovation shaped a visual update that’s both bold and familiar. They’ll share the behind-the-scenes challenges, creative decisions, and cross-functional strategies that helped bring a more vibrant, streamlined WhatsApp to life.
Rory McCawl
Director, Product Design
Rory is a Product Design Director who's been at Meta for 9 years, 4 of which Rory worked across Facebook App and Meta Business Tools before joining WhatsApp as the 11th designer. His time at WhatsApp has allowed him to work across many parts of the product; some highlights include being one of the founders of the WhatsApp Design System team, leading the commerce strategy and most recently the re-design of WhatsApp Business app.
Ana Pérez López
Illustrator
Ana Pérez López is a recognised animator and illustrator currently working as the first full time illustrator. She is part of the Brand in Product Team at WhatsApp and in her day to day she oversees anything that happens with illustrations in product. Before taking her mighty pen to the green app, she used to work at The Economist and CNN, where she shares an EMMY award with her old team.
Christos Kastritis
Design Lead Manager, UI Foundations & Brand
Christos is a Design Lead Manager at WhatsApp, where he leads design for the Foundations team. His work spans design systems, product language, and holistic experience challenges – focusing on the underlying structures that keep WhatsApp simple, consistent, and distinctly itself.
Exclusive Event
Event Overview
Join us in London for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the creative process behind WhatsApp’s latest visual refresh. In this fireside conversation, three team members from design, product, and brand share how they reimagined the look and feel of one of the world’s most widely used apps.
01
Designing for Billions
The team shares how they approached refreshing a UI used daily by over 3 billion people without losing its iconic familiarity.
02
Brand in Product
Explore how brand thinking shaped everything from motion to illustration, and how these elements create warmth and clarity in the user journey.
03
Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration
Hear how product design, engineering, and brand teams worked as one, balancing creativity with consistency and performance.
Details of the Evening
What's Included
Gourmet Light Refreshments – Enjoy a curated selection of artisanal bites and small plates, perfect for connecting with colleagues.
Settle in for easy conversation and good company in a warm, welcoming space. With a thoughtful selection of beer and wine on hand, it’s the perfect backdrop for winding down or catching up.
Have dietary restrictions?
To ensure we can accommodate your dietary needs, please inform us at least 48 hours before the workshop start date.
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