LA Design & Dev started as a small experiment. A simple idea: bring together designers, engineers, and product folks in Los Angeles who wanted something deeper than another networking event. I wanted a space that felt human, a place to meet collaborators, share work, learn together, and actually build real community in a city that can sometimes feel spread out and disconnected.
What began as a handful of people grabbing drinks has grown into a thriving community with thousands of members across LA and beyond. Today, LA D&D is a mix of IRL meetups, workshops, conferences, job-sharing, mentorship, and spontaneous connections that happen every day in Slack.
We host quarterly gatherings, but the real magic comes from everyone who contributes: the people who share job leads, host co-working days, post event invites from across the city, and show up ready to learn, create, and support each other.
Design and engineering can be lonely paths, especially in a city that’s so sprawling... but when you put these disciplines in the same room, something opens up. Ideas move faster. People level up. Projects become real. That’s the energy we try to cultivate here: generous, curious, collaborative, and rooted in community.
Our goal isn’t to be the biggest community, it’s to be the most meaningful. To create a place where people can find opportunities, meet collaborators, explore new ideas, and feel part of something that’s growing with them, not ahead of them.
If you’re new here: welcome. Your voice, your work, and your presence matter. If you’ve been with us since the early days: thank you. You’re the reason this community feels the way it does, and continues to.
There’s more ahead: new events, new partnerships, new ways to connect and learn. But at the core, LA Design & Dev will always be about people first.
Thanks for being part of it.
Frank Bach
Found & Organizer
