While final reports are still trickling in from the Aspen Design Summit, we must pause for a moment to say that we now stay up at night praying that all design conferences are moderated by John Thackara. Despite a small misunderstanding with the altitude, Thackara was a gracious, engaged host, with such a well-crafted, sharp, pay-attention-or-you'll-miss-it wit, it ran like footnotes beneath his intelligent commentary. Maybe it's because we were prepared to love him because we were so in awe of his work in the Doors of Perception conferences, but all in all: Thackara rules.

You might know Thackara from his recent book In the Bubble: Designing In A Complex World, which was named a 2005 must-read for anyone who wants to make the transition from designing stuff to designing ideas. Learn more (about the work and the wit) in his interview with himself.