This conference has really helped me see life from a different perspective.

This pioneering conference… is breaking ground. It’s part of a major stirring of the whole design world.

There are people who go to technology conferences. There are people who go to design conferences. There are people who go to business conferences. There are people who climb mountains. There are people who go to rock concerts. And there are people who go to the ballet. But what happens when these people collide over an intense two days? Cusp. For me, Cusp is an opportunity to make tangential connections to my current thinking and people I know. Cusp is a jolt to my mind, reminding me of what it means to be human on this planet.

We seldom get a chance to pull away from our work for several days and indulge in unencumbered cerebral stimulation. Cusp was like an extended brain massage. If I wasn’t being enthralled by the eclectic mix of fascinating speakers, I was meeting equally interesting people at lunch and after the sessions. This conference is a small investment with a big return for anyone in the ideas business.

I must admit this conference impacted me in a way I didn’t expect. And I’m guessing that had to do with a combination of elements—or the design of the conference. The mixture of professions, ages, races, talents and personalities that paraded across the stage was intoxicating… I found myself at times simultaneously wishing the speaker would talk longer and that they would hurry up and finish so I could hear what the next person had to say. I laughed, I cried, I sang (seriously, AND clapped along). I experienced awe, admiration, disbelief, conviction, inspiration and hope over the course of 16 hours. I revisited the past, relished the present and glimpsed the future. And at the end of it all, I left the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago and felt like time outside had passed me by while inside it stood still. That’s what good design can do.

I got a lot out of Cusp for three reasons: new business intelligence, soul nourishment and the intersection of the two. The conference exposed me to people and ideas that I wouldn’t have been exposed to in any other way that I know. The synthesis of the people and those ideas was the enriching ingredient.

I can not stop talking about it. I feel the buzz I had at S.I.U. with World Game and Bucky Fuller…

Cusp is an extraordinary experience… amazing, inspiring and thought-provoking. The new channels of thoughts and discussions that ensue afterwards are priceless. As a designer, it is wonderful to be introduced to people you might not normally encounter in your own everyday work but whose thinking is so relevant and resonant, and the accessibility of the presenters made the experience memorable. In short, Cusp is mind-blowing and should not be missed.

This feeling of inspiration and, well, wanting to sprint out of the auditorium and make some change happen, permeated the entirety of the Cusp Conference… it was really a supercollider for innovative, creative thought…

The Cusp Conference is at the intersection of ideas and inspiration, a blend of work and life experiences that challenges you to think in provocative ways – not giving you answers but asking questions that lead to insight and discovery independently.

Aiming high, Cusp promises a conference on ‘the design of everything.’ By assembling innovative and dynamic speakers from a wide range of professions, it succeeds. For me, the ideas, methods and lessons learned were incredibly valuable, and I was surprised at how the conference pushed me to excel in my professional life. At a time when innovation, change and vision are the big ideas, Cusp Conference delivered. It was relevant, and it was effective.

Cusp was a treasure hunt into the world of thinking differently. Now I understand why some of the comments on your site sound like the person has just come from a really good self-help seminar. Everyone who spoke had something to say that resonated with me. Here’s why I believe a venue like Cusp can be useful to Pace or any other governmental agency: Cusp provides a safe space to explore possibilities. It takes people out of the everyday. There’s an energy that goes with exploring new ideas, and at times there was a palpable feeling that went with a shift in my thinking.

Cusp is a valuable resource for ideas and stimulation. It’s a great mind walk.

Cusp provides an oasis for igniting new perspectives and creativity in thinking about one’s company, business or life. I came away from my two-day experience asking new questions, discovering fresh and practical ideas, and identifying new possibilities for growth. I would highly recommend Cusp for anyone committed to innovation and learning from some of the best minds in the world.

In a no-holds-barred session by some of the most dynamic and engaging speakers you will ever see/hear/feel, one is almost overwhelmed by the impulse to do more, perform better, give more, think more clearly.

Cusp was fantastic. Nothing I saw was related to my company or its business, and yet somehow everything was connected to it in ways large and small. I found parallels and alternate thinking that I can apply to my organization in the most unexpected and amazing places. These were two incredibly enriching and inspiring days—I’ve already marked my calendar for Cusp 2013

The experience of CUSP is unlike any other; the randomness, the unexpected feelings, the networking, the amazing speakers, the way it makes you think about everything differently.

Four of my co-workers were lucky enough to attend Cusp last year. While this may sound overly dramatic, it was life-changing. We left Chicago in awe of this little conference that blew away all the other conferences we are fortunate enough to attend. Every speaker was amazing, the venue was intimate and you felt truly in the presence of greatness. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me want to be a better citizen of the world. INSPIRED!

It was a hell of a show! I have three teammates ready to strangle me for going on and on about how great it was, so next year can’t come soon enough!