NAIS Emergent Design Lab (EDL)

Registration for the 2025 NAIS Emergent Design Lab (EDL) is now open.

Register Now

2025 NAIS Emergent Design Lab (EDL)
Legal Literacy: Designing for Inclusive Excellence in Today’s Education Landscape
July 8–9, 2025
NAIS Headquarters, Washington, DC

The NAIS Emergent Design Lab (EDL) is a leadership and professional development experience that encourages participants to use and share design principles, action research, collaborative skill-building, and best and emerging practices. Together we develop innovative solutions and models that independent schools can use to address challenges and opportunities related to inclusion and social responsibility inside and out of the classroom. 

Emergent design is a human-centered, constructivist approach to planning and development. Emergent design seeks to adapt and respond to a project’s unique environmental conditions, rather than forcing implementation of a standardized or static planning approach. Emergent design invites participation by those most impacted by any change envisioned to better plan and respond to challenges and opportunities in informed and collaborative ways.  

Audience

EDL designers recommend participants register in school teams, if possible. Teams can consist of: 

  • Heads of school
  • Division heads
  • Senior administrators
  • Diversity directors and educators
  • Student support staff
  • HR professionals

Registration Information 

Registration for the 2025 NAIS Emergent Design Lab is now open.

Registration Pricing Early Bird Pricing
(Through 4/22)		 Standard Pricing
(On or After 4/23)
Member Price $1,575 $1,800
Nonmember Price* $2,050 $2,275

*Contact us for more information about the benefits of NAIS membership, including discounted event pricing.

Hotel Accommodations

NAIS has reserved a block of rooms at the discounted rate of $189/night (plus tax) at the St. Gregory Hotel (2033 M St. NW, Washington, DC 20036). Book your room here by June 13 to get the discounted rate. The institute takes place at NAIS Headquarters, a short walk from the St. Gregory Hotel.   

Schedule

Watch for a more detailed schedule soon.

2025 Faculty

  • Kenji Yoshino, Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional Law, New York University School of Law

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be received in writing at [email protected]. Cancellations received up to 30 days before the program's start date (June 8) will be fully refunded, less a $75 administrative fee. Cancellations received less than 30 days prior to the program will not be refunded.

Contact Information

Please contact [email protected] or 202-973-9700 with any questions.