Portal of Possibility

YEAR 2024

Partner

CampUS Studios,

Bennington College (MFA Public Action Fellowship), community collaborators

Location

Southern Vermont & Digital

Context / Challenge

After decades of building youth centers, national tours, and cultural programs, the next step was clear: to prototype an entire learning world. Traditional education still struggled to keep pace with the needs of young people hungry for creativity, connection, and purpose. The challenge was to design a living ecosystem—part school, part playground, part cultural hub—that could model a different way of learning and being together, offering an equitable distribution of magic and awe in the places where we dwell and learn.

Role

Worldbuilder, Founder, and Lead Experience Designer — leveraging my expertise as a futurist and Social Imagineer to launch an immersive learning realm where progress is an ongoing experiment in curiosity, compassion, and courage.

What We Built

Prototypia — a protopian learning world designed through CampUS Studios, where education becomes immersive, playful, and interconnected. Core elements include:

Portals (themed entry points into hands-on learning);

Passports & Badges (a system for tracking quests, skills, and accomplishments);

The Imaginasium (a centerpiece “playground for imagination”); and The KNKXN Hub (a digital platform connecting the physical learning lab to a global network of collaborators).

Approach / Methods

Worldbuilding and immersive storytelling; Creative placemaking in partnership with local businesses, organizations, and residents; Experiential learning models and game mechanics (quests, missions) that emphasize hands-on creation; and Collaborative design with students, faculty, and local partners to truly make the learning environment student-led.

Impact / Outcomes

Launched the first Prototypia prototype at Bennington College, successfully engaging students in quests, missions, and creative problem-solving. Created a replicable model blending education, wellness, and culture that can scale to other communities. The project inspired learners of all ages to see themselves not just as students, but as designers and co-creators of their own worlds, showcasing the power of imagination in systemic change.

Story

“Prototypia is not a utopia or a dystopia. It’s a prototype of the world we wish to live in — one where curiosity, creativity, and care guide how we learn and grow together. Nothing comes overnight—we nurture potential with care and creativity.”

Tags

Immersive Learning, Worldbuilding, Education Innovation, Creative Placemaking, Community Design, Futurism