RE:DESIGN // RE:IMAGINE SUMMIT
RE:DESIGN // RE:IMAGINE SUMMIT
With our inaugural summit, UCLA Extension is proud to be at the epicenter of creative practice, education, innovation and impact.
RE:DESIGN // RE:IMAGINE is a one-day educational experience that brings together designers, artists, students, educators, and creative leaders to explore how arts and design education are evolving in response to emerging technologies, culturally responsive teaching and new creative economies.
Together, we are reimagining the future and redesigning the potential of creative hearts and minds.
Who Should Attend
- Arts & Design Educators (K–12, Higher Ed, Continuing Education)
- Design & Creative Practitioners
- Students & Emerging Creators
- Industry, Community Arts & Education Leaders
Whether you teach, design, create or support learning ecosystems, this event offers practical insight, inspiration and meaningful connection.
Event Details
Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
Time: 9:30 a.m—3:30 p.m.
Location: UCLA Downtown
Pricing: Early bird registration $150 until February 28, 2026. Student $150. Standard $175.
What You’ll Experience
Interactive Breakout Sessions
- AI & emerging technologies in creative learning
- Inclusive and equity-centered curriculum design
- Creative entrepreneurship & career pathways
- Community-engaged and place-based practice
Inspiring Keynotes & Panels
Hear from leading voices shaping the future of arts, design and education.
Hands-On Workshop & Cross-Sector Networking
Participate in a collaborative, skill-building workshop where you’ll develop ideas, tools or learning experiences you can immediately apply in your work. You will also connect with peers across disciplines, institutions and industries in a welcoming, inclusive environment.
Thursday, April 9, 2026, 9:30am – 3:30pm
9:30am-10:15am: Coffee & Connection
10:15am-10:45am: Welcome & Introduction
10:45am-11:45am: Opening Keynote: Re: Designing Learning - Art, Education & the Future of Creative Practice
11:15am-12:45pm: Future-Forward Practices Panel: Teaching, Making & Leading Across Disciplines
12:45pm-1:30pm: Lunch/Network/Visit Learning Lounge
1:30pm-2:30pm: AI & Emerging Technologies in Creative Learning Panel
2:30pm-3:30pm: BREAKOUT SESSIONS (Select One)
- Designing Learning Experiences: Tools, Prototypes & Inclusive Practice
- Place, Identity & Community-Engaged Creative Practice
- Beyond Grades: Rethinking Assessment in Arts & Education
PANEL DISCUSSIONS
Re:Designing Learning - Art, Education & the Future of Creative Practice
How are artists and designers reshaping learning in an era of AI, equity-driven pedagogy, and rapid cultural change? This keynote sets the tone for the summit by examining how creative education can remain human-centered, inclusive, and relevant while embracing innovation.
Audience: All attendees
Future-Forward Practices: Teaching, Making & Leading Across Disciplines
Designers, artists, and educators from diverse fields discuss how hybrid learning, new tools, and social responsibility are transforming creative practice and pedagogy. Expect practical insights and bold provocations.
Audience: All attendees
AI & Emerging Technologies in Creative Learning
From AI-assisted ideation to immersive learning environments, this session panel explores how emerging technologies are reshaping creative education and how educators can integrate them ethically and thoughtfully.
Audience: All attendees
BREAKOUT SESSIONS (Select One)
In this interactive and hands-on workshop, participants collaborate to design and prototype creative learning experiences including inclusive curriculum design using emerging tools and inclusive design principles. Attendees will leave with tangible lesson plans or project frameworks ready to implement. Bring your laptop!
Audience: Select One Breakout
This session explores how artists, designers and educators work with communities to create socially engaged, place-based projects. Learn how creative practice can foster belonging, agency, and civic engagement.
Audience: Select One Breakout
How do we assess creative work meaningfully? This session examines portfolio-based assessment, exhibitions, narrative feedback, and alternative credentialing models.
Audience: Select One Breakout
Summit Co-Curators
Kimberly Velazco
Kimberly Velazco joined UCLA Extension in 2025 as Portfolio Director for Design Arts. Kimberly has spent her 25-year career in the intersections of art & design, philanthropy and social justice.
Prior to joining ArtCenter, Kimberly’s desire to effect change led her to The James Irvine Foundation working to align the mission of the foundation with that of expanding opportunity for disenfranchised grantee communities in the arts. In addition, Kimberly was a founding co-chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council for the Foundation. During this work, Kimberly worked to inform, deepen and scale the impact of DEI at the Foundation. Kimberly also comes from UCLA Anderson School of Management as a Program Manager with the Office of Executive Education. Most recently, Kimberly served as Program Director over Designmatters, an educational platform at ArtCenter College of Design where art & design meets social change.
Kimberly continues her work in education and philanthropy through Southern California Blacks in Philanthropy (SCBIP) and Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP). Kimberly lends her time as a philanthropic consultant to various organizations including Regarding Her and Elizabeth House. She is a former board member of Pasadena Education Network (PEN) which promotes family participation in public school education. Kimberly received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, with a minor in Spanish, from the University of California, Riverside.
Dr. Antwon Martin, Ed.D
Antwon Martin serves as portfolio director for Education at UCLA Extension. In this role, he oversees the development, evaluation and academic quality of certificate programs, courses and UCLA xOpen seminars across the division. He cultivates industry and community partnerships to drive enrollment growth and extend access — particularly to underserved populations — while championing UCLA Extension’s principles of inclusive excellence.
Before joining UCLA Extension, Martin led academic initiatives at West Coast University, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (where he designed graduate level curricula for marriage and family counseling students), Code To The Future, Argosy University and Lynwood Unified School District. He holds a doctorate degree in educational leadership, two master’s degrees in counseling and educational leadership, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Outside of work, he enjoys mentoring educators, supporting community literacy efforts and exploring the intersection of faith and technology in education.
Why UCLA Extension
UCLA Extension brings together academic excellence, industry relevance and community engagement. This summit reflects our commitment to lifelong learning, creative innovation and inclusive education.
Accessibility & Inclusion
The venue is ADA accessible, and we strive to ensure diverse representation among speakers and participants. If you have accessibility needs, please contact us during registration.