When
October 7-9, 2025
Where
Freigeist Waldhotel, Northeim
Who
Design & UX Leaders
Why
Professional Development
The Design Leadership Retreat is a space for UX and Design Leaders to step back, reflect, and grow, both personally and professionally.
Whether you’re looking to evolve your leadership skills, expand your knowledge, or gain fresh perspective, this retreat offers practical insights, useful tools, and the chance to connect with and learn from other design leaders.
We keep the group small and choose a calm, distraction-free setting to create the right environment for deep focus and meaningful exchange.
Image: Sebastian Böttcher – FREIgeist Northeim
What You’ll Gain from the Retreat
You’ll return to your day-to-day work feeling energized and inspired, with fresh ideas, new connections, and a clear plan to move forward on the topics that matter most to you. Here’s what you can expect to gain:
New Insights & Tools
Design Leadership Framework: You’ll receive a foundational overview of Design Leadership Framework and how to apply it to become a more strategic, holistic leader. For those already familiar with the framework, we offer an advanced track to further develop your expertise.
Team Leadership: This year’s edition highlights the TEAM dimension of Design Leadership. Through a series of sessions, we will cover best practices, practical examples, and essential tools. You’ll also have the chance to exchange ideas and experiences with fellow leaders. Topics will include:
- Building and Scaling Your Design & UX Team
- Recruiting & Onboarding Designers and Researchers
- Developing a Thriving Design Team Culture
- Mastering Successful 1:1s and Difficult Conversations
- Navigating Talent Development and Career Paths
- Advancing Your Own Leadership Skills
Peer Learning & Networking
Connect with Other Design Leaders: Meet fellow design and UX leaders who are facing similar challenges and exchange ideas and experiences with them.
Learn from Each Other: Take the opportunity to share insights, gain new perspectives, and have open, honest conversations about the challenges you’re navigating.
Build a Lasting Network: Create valuable connections with peers that will extend beyond the retreat, supporting your growth long after the event.
Fresh Perspectives
Your own Action Plan: Using the insights and discussions from the retreat, you’ll develop your key takeaways and create an actionable plan to implement with your team.
Expert Support: You can get expert advice and new ideas from your hosts as well as the group, to address your specific challenges and bring your ideas to life.
Lead Your Team with New Confidence: Leave with a fresh perspective and practical tools to lead your team more effectively and communicate with stakeholders more smoothly.
Images: Laura Holder Wurzinger Photography
Our Location
The Freigeist Hotel is centraly located in the beautiful local forrest Wieterwald, near Northeim in the center of Germany. It offers fresh air and plenty of space for collaboration and exchange. Our workshops take place in cozy, professionally equipped meeting rooms. The hotel’s Restaurant WALDWERK, serves fresh, regional dishes, including vegetarian and vegan options. During the Design Leadership Retreat, you’ll stay in comfortable, single-occupancy double rooms. Here is how you can get here:
- By Train: Northeim has a regional train station with frequent connections to the ICE trains in Göttingen (15 minutes) and Hannover (1 hour). A shuttle from the train station can be arranged.
- By Car: The Freigeist Waldhotel is easily accessible via the A7 highway, with a direct exit to Northeim. The hotel offers 4 electric car charging stations.
- By Plane: Northeim is approximately 3 hours by train from Frankfurt Airport and 1,5 hours from Hannover Airport.
Bilder: Sebastian Böttcher – FREIgeist Northeim
Your Hosts & Facilitators
This retreat is organized and led by design experts Katharina Koberdamm and Sascha Mahlke. Katharina developed the Design Leadership Framework and works as a design consultant and coach. Sascha brings over 10 years of experience in managing design teams and has successfully solved a wide range of design leadership challenges across various organizations.
Katharina Koberdamm is an independent lecturer, consultant, and coach specializing in Design Leadership and Experience Design. She has developed Design Leadership Framework. Katharina guides design leaders in embracing their leadership role, becoming more strategic, and positioning design as a key driver of business success.
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She helps organizations build high-performing design teams and optimize the processes and structures that drive design excellence.
The Design Leadership Framework she developed is used worldwide and has received widespread recognition in the community, including features in the renowned design magazine PAGE.
With over 15 years of experience in digital design, Katharina started her career as a Senior Interaction Designer at design consultancies USEEDS°and EDA.C. Later, she worked independent in various strategic and leadership roles, including UX Lead, CX Lead, Project Manager, and Product Owner. Katharina shares her expertise as a guest lecturer, including at ECAL Lausanne, UE Berlin and HTW Berlin. LinkedIn-Profile
Sascha Mahlke is a PhD expert in customer-centered development of digital products. He currently is Head of Digital Services Rehabilitation at Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund, where he is responsible for advancing digital offerings and processes. Prior to this, Sascha co-founded the experience design consultancy USEEDS°, where he served as Managing Director before merging with the strategy consultancy diffferent (SYZYGY Group). Sascha regularly shares his expertise as a mentor.
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Sascha’s expertise goes beyond designing digital products and services. He also focuses on improving innovation processes and the way design and research teams are structured. Throughout his career, he has led teams and worked to ensure that business strategy is closely aligned with design capabilities. Sascha has worked with companies across a variety of industries, including finance, software, e-commerce, and automotive. LinkedIn-Profile
Programm Overview
Tuesday, Oct 7, 2025
- We begin at 4:00 PM
- Coffee & Fingerfood
- Welcome & Introduction
- Understanding individual challenges
- Retreat Overview & Orientation
- Guided Forest Walk and Meditation
- Group Dinner
Wednesday, Oct 8, 2025
- Breakfast
- Design Leadership Framework: Foundations or Advanced Track
- Group Discussion
- Lunch and Free Time
- Deep Dive Sessions on Team Leadership
- Free Time to Explore
- Dinner at a Special Venue
Thursday, Oct 9, 2025
- Breakfast
- Deep Dive Sessions on Team Leadership
- Wild Card Session
- Lunch
- Develop a Personal Plan
- Wrap-Up & Reflections
- Farewell at 4:00 PM
Connect, Share, and Grow – Together
Located close to the Harz Mountains, our retreat offers the perfect setting to connect with nature. We’ll go for a walk together and immerse ourselves in a forrest walk and meditation, guided by our local partners Annelie and Carmen from Praxis Einssein in Northeim. On Day 2, we’ll enjoy a dinner at a local spot away from the hotel. You’ll also have free time to explore on your own or simply relax and connect with the other participants. This is what last year’s participants have said about our retreat:
“The mix of insights, exercises, and discussions was perfect – a well-structured and excellently facilitated format. Discussing best practices with the other participants was extremely valuable.”
“After getting to know each other, we headed straight into the forest – such a great start. Overall, the group size and dynamics were very pleasant. Everyone was open to learning something new!”
“The program, the unique hotel, and the relaxed atmosphere really enabled focus and meaningful exchange. It could have lasted one more day!”
Images: Laura Holder Wurzinger Photography, Sebastian Böttcher – FREIgeist Northeim
€1,380 – Early Bird Price
- Includes workshops, meals, activities and accomodation (see details below)
- Early bird is available until May 31, 2025, after which the regular price of €1,480 applies.
- The ticket price is the total price. No VAT is charged.
- The price is exclusive of travel costs, which are to be booked and paid by you.
- Check our Terms & Conditions & Data Privacy Policy for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in the Ticket Price?
- 2 days of leadership training and workshops
- 2 nights in a single-occupancy double room
- Breakfast, Lunch and Snacks
- Three-course “Chef’s Choice” dinner at the Waldwerk Restaurant
- Dinner at a selected regional location
- Alcohol-free beverages and coffee during meals and workshops
- All retreat materials and presentations
- Group activities
- Shuttle from/to Northeim train station
- Note: Travel to and from the retreat is the must be arranged and paid for by you.
Who Is the Retreat For?
The retreat is designed for a small group of 10–15 participants to ensure a productive atmosphere and open exchange. To join, you should currently hold a leadership role in Design, UX, or a related field. This allows us to tailor both the content and group dynamic to match your needs. It doesn’t matter whether you’re new to your role or bring years of experience, what matters is your interest in growing as a design leader.
Can I Cancel or Transfer My Ticket?
You can cancel your participation free of charge until August 8, 2025. For cancellations made by September 5, 2025, a cancellation fee of 50% of the ticket price applies. After September 5, 2025, a cancellation fee of 70% will be charged. You may consider taking a seminar insurance (not included in the ticket price). Tickets are transferable, provided the person taking your place meets the participation requirements (see above).
How can I convince my manager to pay for this event?
Our event is a management training just like others, just in a more withdrawn (and beautiful) location. You will receive 2 days worth of workshops and input as well as the corresponding training material. The retreat price already includes accomodation and meals. We’re happy to provide an official offer PDF with our company header you can share with your manager or HR department.
Do you have a question?
If you have any questions or need additional information, feel free to reach out to us directly at our LinkedIn or send an email to katharina [at] designleadershipframework.de.