Design Forge 2027

design forge 2027 logo with cultivation theme

March 24-26

Cultivation

The 2027 Design Forge will explore how we design for cultivation. To cultivate is to devote oneself to the ongoing processes of nurturing, seeking and growing, through intentional attention, learning, and care.

As we explore this theme together we invite you to consider how design might help us draw from the past, reimagine what is possible, reshape our relationships, and cultivate more intentional futures:

  • Remember: How might we tap into deeply rooted knowledge systems that might nourish future generations?
  • Reimagine: How might we design for cultivating resilient communities and diverse social-cultural ecosystems that balance needs and resources with care, and which allow for emergence?
  • Remake: How might we design systems that allow for continuous refinement of relationships with ourselves and others?
  • Restory: What might happen when we reframe design as a process of cultivation? How might design as praxis open opportunities for more intentional growth and decline?

Logistics

The 2027 Forge will take place online and at Elon University on March 24 & 25. On March 26, in-person attendees are invited to extend their time together through a Forging Fridays Writing Fellowship.

Presenters

Watch this space for more info about Design Forge sessions as we build the schedule.

Rafe Steinhauer

forging fridays presenter Rafe Steinhauer

Cultivation, Care, and Gardening in Design & Education

About Rafe Steinhauer

Professor Steinhauer is an education-focused designer whose work explores how design methods, particularly design thinking and human-centered design, can transform learning environments. His research examines how these approaches can improve curriculum and instruction and drive meaningful change at the school and system levels. He holds a BSE in Operations Research and Financial Engineering from Princeton University and dual MBA/MEd degrees in Innovation in Education Reform from the University of Virginia.

Desiree Gonzalez and Isabella Thomas

Restorative Design in Practice

Desirée Gonzalez design forge speaker

About Desiree Gonzalez

Desirée Gonzalez is redefining the meaning of aesthetic intervention—her work frames space as a vessel for healing, justice, culture, and ecology. By weaving together restorative justice, depth psychology, trauma awareness, and cultural belonging, she offers a replicable design model that centers dignity, resilience, and liberation.

Isabella Thomas design forge speaker

About Isabella Thomas

Isabella is an Outreach and Engagement Designer with AmeriCorps VISTA, a Junior Architectural Designer at Sky Langan Studios, and a design professor at George Fox University, holding a Master of Architecture and a BA in Management.

Carlye Lauff

Carlye Lauff, design forge speaker

Prototypes as Invitations

About Carlye Lauff

Carlye is a design researcher, innovation strategist, and enthusiastic instructor who blends human-centered design practice with systems thinking approaches. She has helped more than 25 global organizations re-think their design processes and strategies, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to government agencies to universities.

Susie Wise

Susie Wise design forge speaker

Design for Emergence: Ways to Cultivate Emergence with the Tools and Mindsets of Design

About Susie Wise

Susie wrote Design for Belonging: How to Build Inclusion and Collaboration in Your Communities (2022), a visual guide that explores ways to create trust, respect, and stronger connections among teams and communities. Her work focuses on reducing “othering” and creating spaces where people feel included. She has worked as a design leader across education, technology, and social impact.

Saad Shehab

Saad Shehab design forge speaker

Cultivating Human-Centered Communities: What Can We Build Together in K–12 Schools?

About Saad Shehab

Saad Shehab is the Senior Associate Director of Research and Strategic Initiatives at the Siebel Center for Design at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He leads research on teaching and learning human-centered design in formal and informal settings. His work focuses on students’ collaborative problem-solving and how teachers support these processes in STEM classrooms.

Evan Small

design forge presenter and elon professor evan small

About Evan Small

Evan Small is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Wellness at Elon University, where he focuses on experiential education, outdoor learning, wellness, and social justice. He holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations and an M.Ed. in Adventure-Based Learning, with a passion for creating meaningful learning experiences that build connection, belonging, and community. His work explores how education can foster relationships, engagement, and a deeper connection to people and the natural world.