Design and ACCAD alumnus Abigail Ayers is speaking at this year’s AIGA Design Conference taking place virtually from November 9–14. 

Abigail’s talk is entitled The Collaborative Nature of Narrative VR Applications. As part of her Design MFA thesis project, Abigail focused on creating a framework for designers to explore narrative virtual reality (VR) content. Her research illuminates the unique contributions of both user and designer to create intentional and compelling virtual spaces.

The AIGA Design Conference is a yearly forum to engage with professionals practicing cutting edge design work. Invited speakers exemplify ways this profession is probing new design territories. "Bridges" is this year’s conference theme. The virtual program will address questions such as: Who are those in creative communities building bridges to new ways of thinking, new ways of living, and new ways of creating? Who is challenging and rewriting established narratives, guiding old behaviors and institutions into a new, modern way forward? Who are the builders, the uniters?

To explore these questions, the AIGA leadership invited a diverse roster of speakers. The speakers will present topics and narratives to inspire more effective bridges between designers and the individuals or communities they are seeking to impact. Topics to be explored include: Design Ethics, D+I, Automation, Future of Work, Future of Cities, Food, and more.