garrett jaeger [he/him] is the founder of winded.vertigo, a learning design collective based in marinwood, california. he steers this collective of creatives to focus on projects that weave together design principles and scientific rigor–to explore questions and create conditions for playful learning. garrett was an evidence specialist at the LEGO foundation for five years, where developmental needs were viewed as design opportunities for creating flow in playful learning experiences. he helped shift research at LEGO from traditional focus groups and paper-and-pencil tests into ai-enabled documentation of what occurs in situ as children are learning through play. garrett led a similar integration of stealth assessment within programmatic activities. his work has been contextualized in numerous geographic contexts around the world. as a former teacher in preschools, secondary schools, and universities, garrett continues designing and facilitating playful experiences where children inspire adults, ideas lead logistics, and evidence checks intuition.

apoorva shivaram [she/her] is a researcher, data scientist, and lifelong learner. with over 8 years of expertise spanning education, technology, and healthcare, apoorva focuses on crafting and evaluating research questions to drive meaningful outcomes. she obtained a phd in cognitive psychology and an ms in statistics and data science from northwestern university where her research investigated the cognitive mechanisms that underlie human learning, both in formal and informal contexts.

as a senior research associate at winded.vertigo, apoorva drives all aspects of the research process from research design to dissemination. she is passionate about enhancing learning experiences of people across the world. apoorva also works as a learning research & design specialist at math made visible, where she is developing a new math product for middle school children. with a sprinkle of curiosity and a dash of creativity, apoorva aims to make learning a delightful and engaging experience for everyone.

aaron fruit operates an independent design consultancy in excelsior, minnesota. partnering with small and medium size businesses, a.fruit design specializes in communication design, user experience design, branding, and content strategy.

as an artist, aaron enjoys playing in many mediums, including: illustration, printmaking, music, furniture design and more. a recreational interest in philosophy and the behavioral sciences has provided a framework for both introspection and outward discourse about creativity and living a fulfilled life.

jamie [he/him] is a chartered developmental psychologist with over 20 years of experience in inclusion, psychology, innovation, and learning, focusing on empowering marginalized groups. his work intersects psychology, social justice, and design, aiming for genuine social change. jamie champions inclusion by design and playing with uncertainty, grounding practice in theory, and valuing practice-based evidence. he is driven by a deeply held belief in the power of collaboration and the importance of relational, human-focused approaches. this drive stems from his work in the fields of mental health and neurodevelopment, where he witnessed an increasingly pathologized and fractured field.

with a diverse professional background spanning teaching, play work, family support, lecturing, training, strategy, policy work, and international consultancy, jamie’s career has seen him partner with a wide array of institutions, from charities and government bodies to global corporations. his expertise includes co-production, research, and evaluation, designing and leading complex programs to address social disparities and inequitable design and practice, driving tangible changes in these critical areas.

jamie builds frameworks around which practice can sit, bringing coherence and connecting disparate or fractured notions and concepts. as a founding member of special networks, jamie challenges traditional hierarchies of evidence and co-creates solutions for social inequalities as well as addressing universal needs. he works with people, places, and on products, advocating for whole systems approaches and co-produced social innovation, continuing to innovate and push for change alongside like-minded colleagues.

lamis is a passionate program designer, an innovative educator and a creativity consultant based between her lives in egypt and australia. her work celebrates student agency, reflective practice, explores meaningful yet bold collaborations, cultivates curiosity, and embraces gentle ways of living. 

she is currently the associate director of creativity, culture & education (UK) and a board member of circle green (AUS). previously, lamis was the creative learning manager at FORM, a non-profit cultural organisation based in western australia and through this role she founded the creative schools program. she believes that people learn best when they: make discoveries; connect to the world in deep and profound ways; participate in the making of their own learning experiences; and understand the why behind what they are learning. 

before joining FORM, lamis focused on co-designing programs for children and youth in disadvantaged, displaced, and migrant communities across asia. her perspectives on education are informed by in-field experiences in afghanistan, bangladesh, cambodia, indonesia, lebanon, nepal, pakistan, syria, and yemen.

lamis has a masters of arts in social entrepreneurship from the university of london and a diploma in art therapy from universitat pompeu fabra, barcelona.

payton jaeger [she/her] works as a communications associate for winded.vertigo out of milwaukee, wisconsin. contributing to the communications goals of the organization, payton focuses on crafting strategies that blend creative storytelling with impactful messaging. payton’s work supports the development of campaigns that resonate with audiences and align with broader strategic objectives. 

outside of her professional role, payton enjoys creativity through various hands-on pursuits. whether experimenting in the kitchen, tending to her garden, or working on personal projects, she finds inspiration in the process of discovery and creation. payton’s approach to both work and life is rooted in curiosity, collaboration, and desire to connect meaningfully with others. 

maría altamirano [she/her] is a facilitator, designer, and consultant who champions the transformative power of play to foster creativity, resilience, and connection. with over a decade of experience spanning latin america, the united states, east africa, and the middle east, she collaborates with organizations to design learning experiences that inspire meaningful change and inclusion.

maría spent eight years with the LEGO Foundation, leading programs that trained over 100,000 educators and developing playful learning strategies for diverse global contexts. her expertise lies in integrating learning through play, human-centered design, and edtech innovation to create safe and engaging environments where learning thrives.

maría’s work reflects her passion for bridging research and practice. she has authored 21 educational publications, developed hybrid learning solutions, and built teacher training networks to drive systemic change. certified in LEGO serious play, project management, and trained in scaling early childhood initiatives at harvard kennedy school, she continues to craft sustainable, empathetic solutions that empower communities and elevate learning as a tool for growth and connection.