Across the African continent, a new generation of designers, developers and entrepreneurs are shaping products that respond directly to local contexts. However, while the ecosystem is growing rapidly, many of these initiatives are still struggling to gain international visibility. THE Africa Product Keynote (APK) aims to change that narrative.
Scheduled for 28–29 March 2026 in Lomé, Togo, the event is positioned as a platform dedicated to product thinking, innovation and business development in Africa’s digital ecosystem. The conference is organized by Friends of Figma Lomé and brings together designers, product managers, founders and industry experts to explore how African-made products can evolve into high-performance solutions capable of competing globally.
©FoF Lomé
©FoF Lomé
©FoF Lomé
©FoF Lomé
©FoF Lomé
©FoF Lomé
©FoF Lomé
Rather than focusing solely on technology, the initiative looks at the broader framework that enables products to thrive: design culture, customer experience, research and strategic development. The 2026 edition will revolve around the theme “Creating High Performance Products: All includedCustomer Excellence and Business Development.”
Designing products rooted in local reality
In recent years, Africa’s digital economy has accelerated significantly. Startups, creative studios and independent makers are developing tools and services tailored to the continent’s unique challenges—from financial access to mobility, education and communication. But as the organizers of the Africa Product Keynote point out, the challenge is no longer just making products: building strong product ecosystems.
This means sharing knowledge, improving research and development processes and encouraging collaboration between designers, businesses and institutions. By facilitating dialogue between these communities, APK aims to help African products gain visibility while strengthening design and product practices across the region. One of the key ambitions of the initiative is to improve access to locally developed digital products, ensuring that innovation benefits the communities from which it originates.
From a community event to a regional platform
The conference has grown steadily since its first editions. The first gatherings brought together dozens of attendees and speakers representing startups, companies, and independent creators working in product design and development. With each edition, the event has expanded its network of contributors, establishing itself as a point of reference for product culture in Francophone Africa.
The organizers envision the Africa Product Keynote as an annual reference event, capable of connecting professionals from across the continent, while fostering collaboration with international partners. This ambition reflects a wider shift happening across the African design and technology landscape: a shift from individual initiatives to stronger professional communities and knowledge-sharing platforms.
A discussion on the future of product design
The 2026 edition will focus on the intersection between artificial intelligence, customer-centric design and business strategy. As digital services become more central to everyday life, designers and product teams must balance technological innovation with usability, accessibility and long-term sustainability.
Through talks, workshops and networking sessions, the event aims to explore how these disciplines can converge to create products that are technologically advanced and deeply relevant to their users. This perspective also highlights an important development in contemporary design culture: product design is no longer limited to physical objects. Instead, it expands into digital systems, service design and user experience, areas where African creators are increasingly making their mark.
Building bridges between communities
At its core, the Africa Product Keynote is less about individual projects and more about building connections. Bringing together designers, entrepreneurs, institutions and researchers, the platform encourages the exchange of ideas and practices that can strengthen the entire ecosystem. These conversations are essential for a continent where innovation is often driven by local ingenuity and ingenuity, yet requires stronger networks and a global reach.
As the organizers describe it, the aim is to create a space where knowledge circulates, partnerships emerge and new opportunities are formed. In this sense, the Africa Product Keynote reflects a broader movement in the global design community: one that recognizes the importance of diverse perspectives and local expertise in shaping the products of tomorrow.
