Frontier was borne from a desire to rethink what the conference experience could be like. As the design field was embracing an increasingly ambiguous definition of practice, with a dizzying array of new tools, Frontier set out to challenge us to speculate, ideate and dream about our future as designers and educators.

Hosted by Montana State University, this AIGA Design Education Conference—which I concepted and chaired—had no keynotes, only instigators: April Greiman, Juliette Cezzar, Rick Griffith, Marc English and Saki Mafundikwa, who jumped into sessions prompting deeper questions and participation. The vast majority of the 60+ breakouts were hands-on, and workshop-based where making was intertwined with thinking. Topics such as how can we learn from jazz, improv, meditative practice, and embracing play were championed. Technology-based “tools” such as AR/VR; different coding languages, even the dark web were explored. Exercises such as “Bootlegging Sol Lewitt”; “Collaborative Speed Dating”; “Anonymous Failures” and “Cultivating Discomfort for Deep Learning” were geared toward pushing ourselves out of habit-driven choices and our safe zones. Co-chaired with William Culpepper and Colin Frazer with additional support from Chris Shultz, Jonathan Hanahan, Bryn Smith, Michael Newhouse, Jeffrey Conger and 40+ student volunteers.