The future of learning is...
Rooftop insights from 40+ educators on what matters most for the future of learning
Hey hey! 👋 Thanks for reading. Welcome to the 4 new subscribers to Learning, Designed from this past week. I launched an experiment last week at ASU+GSV, handing out 200 stickers with a QR code to my site. Looking forward to seeing who joins us! Let’s start a movement. Reach out if you want a sticker from my next batch!
I’m writing because education wasn't designed around students but we can improve the learner experience through design. I share stories, tips, and work in progress weekly.
Why it matters: Education’s future isn’t just about AI or skills—it’s about people, purpose, and connection. Insights from 40+ educators remind us that the most human parts of learning—curiosity, community, and adaptability—still lead the way.
Go deeper:
Last Sunday during the AI Show before ASU+GSV, I hosted “Rooftop Connections,” a gathering of local educators alongside conference attendees with support from the UC-San Diego Design Lab Educators Alliance.
70+ people attended to gather, connect, and share their perspectives on the future of education inspired by the AI Show…and enjoy the view, 😎 with an even split of locals and “out-of-towners.”
It was wonderful to bring virtual connections into real life and connect with so many great folks, albeit briefly. An abundance of great conversations around you is a great problem to have!
Here’s a peek into the event in full swing:
Gathering insights from education innovators
As you might expect, as a designer I couldn’t let a gathering of so many great minds go to waste without teasing out some insights.
These “drink tickets” were stationed on the bar to be completed with their first round: a prompt to react to one of three questions about the future of learning and education:
What’s your #1 wish for education 100 years from now?
The future of learning is…
What’s 1 essential skill to learn for the future?
A few folks slipped our radar, with 46 completed cards at the end of the night. But the responses were insightful. Here’s a quick peek at the full set:
After spending some time with the cards and clustering (grouping) them into themes across 2 of the questions, a few things jumped out.
The top 5 themes from clustering
Curiosity and “learning how to learn” as an essential skill
The essential skill of learning how to adapt and teaching it in the future
Teaching in personalized, learner-centric ways in the future
The importance of relationship building and community in teaching and learning
The balance and importance of being human while working with AI/technology
The future of education and learning
Underneath these cards are themes of learner motivation, staying relevant to critical learning needs, making the learner the critical stakeholder, and building learning for both now and the emerging horizons.
As I continue to reflect on all of the conversations, connections, and insights I took from ASU+GSV this year, this exercise and the insights 40+ education innovators synthesized to help crystalize education’s goal now, and in the future:
Relevant learning for each student that motivates them to continue learning, together, for life.
It certainly feels like a mission worth pursuing. It’s why I’m excited to be at the intersection of so many initiatives “doing” at the intersection of education and work.
What’s next for the cards?
I’m also excited for these insights to have a “second life” during SD Design Week during an “education-focused” day. I hope to somehow bring them into our program and share the vision of education innovators with the San Diego community.
This drink ticket concept might just get a second life as well. I’m beginning to build relationships with employers on another project and hope this might be a great way to help build some initial connection around the projects’ focus, motivate their input and help build a foundational understanding around their value in the design process.
Podcast: Designing the Future of Edu with Empathy and AI
I was invited by Dustin Ramsdell of The Higher Ed Geek Podcast to join him for an episode recorded during the AI Show at ASU+GSV. The energy of the AI Show was palpable as we talked about the role of design in higher education, the balance of adopting AI, and the powerful ways that design can help leaders navigate change.
Listen to the episode on your next commute and let me know what stood out to you!
Insights from the Field
Bringing you voices from across education to answer:
What advice would you give to someone driving change in education?
“I’ve seen the system fail to keep pace with the world students are stepping into. We tell them to follow a straight path, but that path no longer exists. Education isn’t—and shouldn’t be—one-size-fits-all.
Today’s students need clarity about their options, confidence in their abilities, and the connections to make their future real. The old model isn’t enough. Industries are evolving, automation is reshaping jobs, and success isn’t just about test scores—it’s about adaptability, problem-solving, and relationships.
Those driving change in education must be bold enough to question the status quo and build bridges between learning and the real world: create opportunities for students to explore careers, gain mentors, and step into their futures with purpose. Change is happening. The future won’t wait. It’s time to reimagine education and help every student own their next step.”
Lisa Stout, Executive Director, Project Next
Learning is better when it’s social.
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