For our 10th anniversary, we have asked some of our speakers to reflect on how Domain-Driven Design, the community, or the conference itself has evolved over the past decade.

Zsófia Herendi is a system and solution thinker with over 20 years of experience bringing developers and business people together. She has been building the Domain-Driven Design community in Hungary since 2017 and is a skilled modeller with a passion for diagramming and optimising flow. As a product manager at Tesco Technology, Zsófi is known for her unique perspective in the DDD community, bringing product and business insights to strategic software design. Zsófi regularly speaks at conferences including DDD Europe and Craft Conference, where she shares her expertise on strategic Domain-Driven Design from a product perspective. As a long-time advocate of Domain-driven Design, she focuses on helping people and teams see the bigger picture, speak a common language, and align around what truly matters.

10 years of DDD Europe – Growing together through practice and people

by Zsófia Herendi - 4 minute read

When I first attended DDD Europe back in 2018, I had no idea how much this conference would shape my professional and personal journey. On that very first occasion, I was struck by how open and responsive the organisers were. Before the conference I casually mentioned that it could be great to create a space for local DDD meetup organizers to connect and exchange ideas, and by the time of the conference, they had already made it happen. That openness and willingness to nurture community ideas made a huge impression on me. It was also the first time I met so many of the “big names” of DDD in person, and some of those encounters grew into friendships that are still part of my life today.

Over the years, DDD Europe has evolved in scale and depth, but it has managed to hold on to its essence: learning by doing. I’ve witnessed the steady growth of hands-on sessions and workshops taking center stage. Both organizers and attendees seem to agree that these interactive sessions are where real learning happens. The introduction of the DDD Foundations Day (used to be the “Day 0” of the conference) was another milestone. I absolutely love that concept: dedicating a day to return to the fundamentals, with talks and sessions focused on the basic building blocks of DDD. I even had the privilege to give a talk at Foundations Day once (from a product manager's perspective), which remains a highlight of my DDD journey.

Another aspect that makes DDD Europe special is how it encourages communities within the community 😊 Over time, it became a tradition for DDD meetup organisers from different countries and cities to come together, brainstorm ideas, and share how they help local groups grow. This focus on connecting local and global efforts shows how DDD Europe extends far beyond a conference. It’s a living, breathing network that continues throughout the year.

Having the opportunity to speak at such a high-quality event has also pushed me to grow. When you know you’ll be standing in front of a community you deeply respect, you prepare differently. I’ve always wanted to deliver high-value content, so I challenged myself to bring fresh topics, new perspectives, and practical insights each time. That preparation process (thinking deeply about what I want to share and how to make it useful for others) helped me evolve as much as the sessions I attended.

Looking ahead, I see the DDD community continuing to explore new territories, especially with AI now taking such a central role in our industry. Still, I hope we never lose sight of the foundations. The true power of DDD lies in something we still don’t always master in software design: building shared understanding. As we talk about tools, systems, and intelligent agents, I believe there’s even more need to go back to collaboration and communication, the human foundations that make DDD meaningful. And I trust DDD Europe will keep providing space for sessions that revisit these timeless topics.

Finally, I want to express my full gratitude to the DDD Europe organizers. From day one, they’ve treated me like an old friend: supportive, encouraging, and always open to new ideas. They’ve created an environment where speakers feel both cared for and inspired, from perfectly equipped lounges to small gestures like the best selection of chocolate in the breaks. I’m truly thankful for the countless opportunities to share my work, learn from others, and be part of this extraordinary community.

Zsófia Herendi will also speak at DDD Europe 2026 on June 10 - 11 - 12, 2026, in Antwerp, Belgium. Tickets are available below.