Beyond Boundaries was a two-day conference where global leaders and innovators will gather to share ideas and strategies that will profoundly impact the future of urban living through design-led policies.
The WDC 2024 Design Policy Conference, titled “Beyond Boundaries,” took place on November 12-13, 2024, at IQHQ’s Research and Development District. This landmark two-day experience brought together 130 speakers, thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and creatives to explore design-led policies for resilient urban communities. Centered around four dynamic tracks—Beyond Borders, Beyond Creative, Beyond Health, and Beyond Innovation—the conference featured bold discussions on innovative policy design and cultural collaboration unique to the San Diego Tijuana region.
Attendees engaged in meaningful dialogues, immersive sessions, and networking opportunities that underscored the critical role of design in shaping urban policy and planning processes. The event also blended inspiring performances and interactive experiences in partnership with High-Resilience, fostering bold ideas and highlighting how impactful design begins with connected individuals and thriving societies.
Given its success, this event will continue as a biennial gathering, evolving into a broader “Ideas Festival” to further explore the intersections of design, policy, and societal transformation.
BEYOND BOUNDARIES embodied a bold vision for designing resilient communities by reimagining how design and policy intersect. It represented the spirit of San Diego Tijuana, a transborder region shaped by rich cultural exchange, shared challenges, and interconnected opportunities.
This theme celebrated the breaking of traditional silos, fostering collaboration across disciplines, and addressing complex societal issues with creativity and purpose. San Diego Tijuana exemplifies how transcending physical, cultural, and institutional boundaries leads to transformative solutions that benefit both local and global communities, offering a platform to reimagine what is possible when design and policy unite for lasting impact.
At the Beyond Boundaries Design Policy Conference, four specialized tracks explored the central theme.
